BOTTOMS, breasts and plenty else were on display yesterday as hundreds turned out for the annual naked bike ride.

Some day-trippers were seen doing a double take in disbelief as the peloton of bare flesh took in the sights of Brighton and Hove.

With the mercury reaching 22C, people lathered themselves in sun cream to protect body parts perhaps not so used to the sun.

Duncan Blinkhorn, co-organiser, said: “It was a fantastic day. The weather behaved and we had close to 1,000 riders out there.

“It was very hot and we doled out the sun cream. I think most people were well protected but there were some nasty looking burns.”

With chains oiled and tyres checked, the riders set off from The Level before taking in the sights of the seafront.

They stopped for a breather and the chance to reapply sun cream at Hove Lawns before getting back into the saddle and going through Hove, past Churchill Square to the Old Steine.

Following a quick dip in the fountain they were back on again and through Kemp Town and finished at the nudist beach.

Mr Blinkhorn added: “The support was fantastic. We were cheered all along the route, as we are each year.

“The day was all about showing you can have great fun on a bicycle on a Sunday afternoon – and all for free.”

The event, which has been held in Brighton and Hove since 2006, is one of the biggest of its kind in the world.

While there has been controversy about the amount of flesh allowed at previous events, Sussex Police said full nudity was permitted this time round.

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, who is the police commander for the city, said that just two complaints had been received – one from a man in Wales.

On Twitter he said: “Told officers policing Brighton’s World Naked Bike Ride that they don’t have to wear stab vests but that is only clothing they can remove.”