THOUSANDS of people will take their clothes off as part of a mass strip in the name of art in the North-East tomorrow.

Exhibitionists will flock to the Quaysides at Newcastle and Gateshead from 4am for the "installation" with American artist Spencer Tunick.

He has made headlines around the world for his work, which features hordes of naked people.

Visitors from as far afield as Belgium and Bahrain and Mexico and Mozambique will be taking part.

People from all backgrounds - from accountants to zookeepers - have agreed to shed their clothes alongside strangers.

The completed work will be shown next January at Baltic, Gateshead's centre for contemporary art, which has commissioned the project.

A Baltic spokesman said: "The planning is going really well and we have been ensuring that the project is safe and viable. We have got a lot of experience in dealing with big events in the region.

"It is not going to be a spectator sport. The idea is for the people taking part to enjoy the experience and we don't want people trying to get close to see them.

"We will be putting measures in place so as few people see them as possible and have written to everyone who lives nearby to tell them what is happening."

Tim Bartlett, of the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, said the event could generate £2m in visitor expenditure on the day alone, with further benefits from images of Newcastle Gateshead appearing on Spencer Tunick's website and in other media.

Mr Tunick has held naked photo shoots in San Francisco, Barcelona, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Melbourne, in Australia.

It is not too late to take part in the project. Visit www. balticprojects.org/tunick