Playgirl magazine is to launch in the UK this month but unlike its US sister publication, it will not contain any below-the-belt nudity.

The US magazine is a favourite with gay men and up to 50 per cent of the readership has been estimated to be male.

However, a Playgirl spokeswoman said the UK version would only feature men topless from the waist up.

The spokeswoman said surveys of female readers say they do not want to see nudity and prefer to see a man’s eyes and chest.

Instead, the monthly publication will have a topless centrefold, entertainment news and columnists.

Other features include photography by Central St Martins graduates, beauty and fashion.

The first issue is out on March 10th as a soft launch. It is published by Playgirl Publishing, a new venture from Fire Publishing.

Playgirl US was founded in 1973 as a feminist retort to Playboy magazine.

As well as erections and even cumshots, it has published features on abortion rights and other feminist issues.

Last year, it secured a coup in by persuading Levi Johnston, the father of Sarah Palin’s grandaughter, to pose naked.