It was male members only at this year's naked bike ride through Canterbuy as women shied away from the saddle show.

Around 20 men made a quick gear change to cycle clothes-free around the streets of the ancient city this afternoon.

It's the fourth occasion riders have dared to bare all to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists in the car-loving culture.

But the group lacked support from the female population with not one woman taking part in this year's World Naked Bike Ride.

Last year, 34 riders took part but one individual was told to cover up, banned from the ride and escorted away from the assembly area after becoming a little too over enthusiastic in anticipation of the event.

The city council says no special licence is needed and it allowed participants use of the Canterbury Castle grounds to assemble and prepare.

But they advised anyone who might be offended by the sight of the naked riders to avoid Canterbury this afternoon.

Mr Freeman said: “Sadly, Canterbury is not exempt from serious and fatal accidents between cyclists and motor vehicles, and the nudity of the World Naked Bike Ride highlights that cyclists don’t have the protective armour of vehicles and is a stark reminder of our mortality.

"We're here to protest about the world's dependency on the use of oil and in turn there are too many cars, too many fumes, too much pollution, it's bad for health and also to try and improve the facilities for cyclists across Kent and the whole of the UK.

"Well we are naked because we are not seen when we are wearing hi-vis jackets but when we are naked everyone sees us.

"We are vulnerable out here we haven't got a protective bubble around us like a car, we're just skin, flesh and blood and riding on a bike with zero emissions."

“Strip away all the layers of protection and we are all naked humans, simply flesh and blood; all equals.”

Participant Roger Newton said the protest was to draw attention to three things; the amount of oil being used, the number of short trips made and the vulnerability of cyclists on the road.

The 60-year-old from Strood said: "Strangely enough cycling today they see us when we're naked and it poses the question if you see us while we're naked, could drivers please see us when we have clothes on as well.

"I'd like people who are confused by our presence in the town today to Google the world naked bike ride and see why we do it.

"If people were listening about our wasting of resources we wouldn't necessarily have to do the bike rides."

To sign up or for more visit www.worldnakedbikeride.org.