THEY ARE the cyclists who dare to bare in their bid to tell the naked truth about environmental issues.

Once a year they strip off to take part in the World Naked Bike Ride, an eye-catching event that aims to focus attention of Britain's "car culture" and the dangers faced by cyclists.

Now organisers have revealed that the headline-grabbing spectacle is returning to Southampton again next summer.

The event is due to take place on the evening of June 1, with a similar ride being staged in Portsmouth the following afternoon.

Satvir Kaur, the city council's cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, welcomed the announcement.

She said: "It can be very difficult to quantify the revenue generated by specific events such as this. However, we always welcome any event that gets people active while at the same time raising the awareness of important issues.

“The money spent by participants at any event, and by visitors to the city, is an additional and valued boost to the local economy.”

Held in towns and cities around the globe, the World Naked Bike Ride aims to celebrate "body freedom" as well as highlighting the vulnerability of cyclists and drawing attention to the ever-increasing use of fossil fuels.

One of the riders who took part in the 2014 Southampton ride had the words "less gas, more ass" painted on his back.

Some of the cyclists use bikinis, shorts and even huge hats to hide their modesty, but most are kitted out in their birthday suits.

This year's Southampton ride saw dozens of naked and scantily-clad campaigners tackle a six-mile route that included Portswood, Bevois Valley and the city centre.

Drivers and pedestrians could bare-ly believe their eyes as riders stripped off for the one event that really is about bums on seats.

The ride was truly global, with riders from Hampshire, Switzerland and Australia among those taking part.

They included Carl Baker, a professional life model from Sydney, who was completing as many naked bike rides around the world as he could, as well as cycling from Blackpool to Istanbul.

Those involved in the 2014 ride highlighted the event's environmental message by having the words "less gas, more ass" painted on his back.

Every year the dress code is the same - "come as bare as you dare".

Organisers say simple nudity is not illegal in the UK, but using it to intentionally cause harassment, alarm or distress is the against the law.