THOUSANDS of cyclists are to strip off to protest against car culture and celebrate cycling and the human body.

The World Naked Bike Ride is taking place later this year at venues including Newcastle and York.

According to organisers, riders will parade through York on June 25 and Newcastle on July 2.

A spokesman for the event said it was a "peaceful, imaginative and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture. A celebration of the bicycle and also a celebration of the power and individuality of the human body. A symbol of the vulnerability of the cyclist in traffic."

The event takes place at more than 50 cities across the world and involves thousands of riders, including around 3,000 in the UK each year.