A cyclist was hauled from the start line of a naked bike race and spoken to by police following reports that he had an erection.

The "aroused" and "overexcited" man was spotted at the start of the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) event in Canterbury, Kent, on Sunday.

He was ordered by stewards to put his jeans on before being spoken to by police, and was not allowed to take part in the event - aimed at raising awareness of the dangers faced by cyclists on the road.

A witness was told the Kent Online website: "Everyone was taking their clothes off to get ready for the ride. I heard gasps and I turned around - it was a horrible sight.



"It's fair to say he was overexcited and got aroused. It looked like he was enjoying the event a bit too much.



"One of the organisers went over to him and told him to put his trousers on while speaking on a walkie-talkie to police.



"The man looked sheepish when he was spoken to by the police."

Responding to complaints on Facebook, ride organiser Barry Freeman said: "We do not accept this behaviour and he was dealt with and removed before the ride started."

A spokesman for Kent Police said that a man had been told to get dressed and leave the race, which he did. Officers took the man's details but no further action will be taken.

Another complaint from the member of the public that the event was allowed to take place was being "dealt with", the spokesman added.

"Generally speaking, nudity in public is not an offence where there is no intention to cause harassment, alarm and distress and therefore Kent Police did not have any grounds to stop the event," the spokesman said.