HUNDREDS of people will take part in a topless walk to protest the “double standard of nipple censorship, body shame and unwanted sexualisation”.

The peaceful protest will meet by the Peace Statue at Hove Lawns from 2pm today.

Marchers will be walking to the i360 before a “rally and picnic” outside the tourist attraction.

The event organisers say they want to “empower” women to challenge societal norms and accepted belief that men can walk around topless in public, but women cannot.

The Argus: People at the 2019 marchPeople at the 2019 march

A Free the Nipple poster read: “Free the Nipple is a worldwide movement of people protesting the double standard of nipple censorship, body shame and unwanted sexualisation.

"Every year we come together in Brighton to say no to the many ways the male gaze continues to dictate how we behave in our society.”

The poster said the march is family friendly, peaceful and fully accessible.

The Argus: The protest will start at the Peace StatueThe protest will start at the Peace Statue

All genders are also welcome at the march.

One participant from a previous year said: “Thank you Free the Nipple Brighton for creating such a safe space, I can’t remember the last time I felt this liberated. It was beautiful.”

Another added that it was “such a colourful scene with such unrestrained joy”.

Find out more about why the group protest to “smash the stigma surrounding gendered nipples".