CYCLISTS will be peeling off their clothes tonight in an attempt to tell the naked truth about the environmental crisis.

Each year they bare all to take part in the World Naked Bike Ride, which aims to highlight the UK’s “car culture” and the hazards cyclists face.

Cyclists will meet on Southampton Common opposite Omdurman Road with the event running from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Organisers have said the ride is a peaceful and fun protest against oil dependency and car culture. It aims to celebrate the bicycle and the power and individuality of the human form.

Taking place in 50 cities across the world, the World Naked Bike Ride attempts to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists and the ever-increasing use of fossil fuels. Touted as the world’s biggest naked protest Southampton is one of around 50 cities with thousands of riders participating.

In 2016, the Southampton ride saw dozens of naked and scantily-clad campaigners tackle a six-mile route that included Portswood, Bevois Valley and the city centre.

Some of the cyclists use bikinis, shorts and even huge hats to hide their modesty, but most just wear their birthday suits. Organisers say nudity is not illegal in the UK, however using it to cause harassment, alarm or distress is against the law.

Work is also underway to create a new segregated cycle lane in Southampton.

The £470,000 cycleway along Third Avenue will run parallel to Millbrook Road West and is expected to be completed in late June.

The ride comes after plans for a new cycleway which will link Chandler’s Ford and Southampton have been given the green light.

The £1.14m scheme will see a three metre wide, two-kilometre-long off-road cycleway and footway along Hut Hill.