Lady Godiva rides again...and startles early risers in Hyde Park



An unexpected sight greeted a few startled early risers this morning as a group of young women rode almost naked on a white horse through Hyde Park recalling the legend of Lady Godiva.

The real Lady Godiva modesty was said to be preserved only by her long tresses when she rode naked through the streets of Coventry in protest against her husband's harsh taxation of his people.

But these ladies were saved only by a nude-coloured high cut brief, as they trotted through the Royal park on their magnificent steeds.



Barebacked naked ladies: A group of women stripped off to ride semi-nude through Hyde Park to promote the release of film Lady Godiva on DVD

The ride was organised by the film director Vicky Jewson, who directed a modern retelling of the story recently.

Several naked ladies on horseback rode through Hyde Park for the DVD release of British romantic comedy Lady Godiva, and to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Support Centre in Oxford.

Lady Godiva, a noblewoman during the reign of King Canute, is said to have ridden naked through Coventry in an attempt to stop her husband's cruel treatment of the people of the city.



Actress Libby Jewson who plays Penny in the film was one of the group who created the startling spectacle to promote the film about a schoolteacher who has to decide whether to recreate Lady Godiva's infamous ride to win a £100,000 bet.

The unexpected sight certainly brought some colour to the city's premier park.



Leading from the front: Libby Jewson who plays Penny in the film Lady Godiva

The film was the brainchild of 20-year-old writer Vicky Jewson, and nods to quirky British hits like Notting Hill and Bridget Jones.

Lady Godiva tells the tale of a young woman driven to desperate measures to raise money for a worthy cause, with a few romantic disasters and triumphs along the way.

"Lady Godiva was a great tale to adapt. It's a tale that's never been told before, a kind of undiscovered Robin Hood, the story of one woman's triumph over adversity," said Ms Jewson.

Ms Jewson started to write her Lady Godiva script straight after her A-levels and decided to ditch plans for university in order to concentrate on film-making.

Various romantic disappointments follow, including Jemima's humiliation on national TV a la Bridget Jones, before she discovers that Michael has made a £100,000 bet that she will not ride naked through Oxford.

Horsin' around: The naked ladies cause a bit of a stir in London's Hyde Park



