It's squeaky bum time for campaigning cyclists at a naked bike ride.

The ninth annual event takes place in Manchester tomorrow night, with police and organisers expecting as many as 150 riders to take part under the banner ‘bare as you dare’.

The ride - part of World Naked Bike Ride Day - is described as a ‘peaceful, imaginative and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture’. It also aims to add to a global celebration of riding on two wheels - and ‘celebrates the power and individuality of the human body’.

Scores of nude people on bikes cycled round the city centre last year. The majority wore very little if anything, but police reported no incidents or complaints.

The convoy is due to meet at All Saints Park off Cavendish Street near Manchester Metropolitan University at 6pm for a 7pm start. The route takes in Deansgate, Canal Street and the Northern Quarter before returning to Oxford Road.

Cyclists at last year’s event also took the chance to call for speed limits in all residential areas to be lowered to 20mph.

WARNING: GALLERY CONTAINS IMAGES OF NUDITY

Sean Fitton, an organiser, said: “It is very much a fun event with a serious message behind it. We would also encourage people to come and cycle fully-dressed. The more cyclists the merrier.

“Last year’s weather was awful and we still had around 90. We are hoping for around 150 this year if the weather is good.”

Police issued a light-hearted warning to riders on Twitter, saying action would be taken if the event becomes ‘more than simple nudity’.

But city centre police Inspector Phil Spurgeon said officers would mainly monitor the event and any road traffic issues along the route.

He said: “GMP will be monitoring the naked bike ride, but last year’s event did not cause significant disruption and did not attract any complaints.

“We understand that there will be differing views on the event, but nudity itself is not an offence, unless combined with behaviour which is harassing, alarming or distressing. As ever, GMP will try to balance the right to protest with minimising disruption to the community and dealing proportionately with any issues that occur.”