Nudists bared all in the centre of Brighton as part of a protest calling for naked people to be given more rights.

A group of seven activists from across the country met at the Royal Pavilion yesterday and marched through the streets to fight for the right to be naked in public.

The group, including a nude mandolin player, went starkers soon after meeting but were immediately warned by the police they were breaking the law and ordered to get dressed.

After a minute, they complied and donned minuscule sarongs and revealing pants. Vincent Bethell, founder of action group Freedom To Be Yourself, which organised the event, put on a sandwich board bearing the message "Stop the injustice, stop the oppression".

The men marched through the streets, along the seafront and tried to go on to Brighton Pier but were refused entry by bouncers who said they might offend women and children.

Freedom To Be Yourself is campaigning for the Government to create a new law to protect naked people from discrimination and give them the right to wear nothing in public places.

Adrian Shephard, 33, from Hove, who took part in the march, said: "Being nude is all about being free and getting rid of all your worries. I was born naked and I will die naked. It is just a body and I have the right to not wear any clothes."

Richard Chaffer, from Coventry, said: "What we are protesting about is the injustice of us not being allowed to be ourselves. We are all born naked but it is illegal to show our bodies.

"At the moment naked people are segregated onto nudist beaches and are suffering from prejudice."

The banner-waving group drew little reaction from passers-by as they paraded through the streets, apart from the odd wolf whistle and shouts of "get your kit off".

Many members of the public agreed people should have the right to be naked on beaches but not in public places.

Rubbish collector John Woolas, of Goldstone Road, Hove, said: "I think there should be a more liberal attitude on beaches. But some people might find it offensive if they had to see that while they were doing their shopping in Safeway."

Activist Doug Streeter, 80, of Saltdean Drive, Saltdean, explained he posed as a male model for a book club and it was essential he had an all-over body tan.

He said: "I support the idea of more freedom for nudists. The human body isn't something horrible, it's something beautiful."

As a finale, the group jumped into the sea next to the pier and bared their bottoms to the waiting photographers.