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Naturist swimmer 'bewildered' at event cancellation

Alex PopeNorthamptonshire
Getty Images A swimming pool with parabolic arches. The ceiling is painted blue with four dark blue lines down it. There is bunting running across the pool and windows either side. Getty Images
The group has held a naturist swimming session at the Mounts Baths in Northampton since 1982

A naturist group that holds a monthly naked swimming session has said it has been left "distressed and bewildered" that the event has been cancelled.

Since 1982 the Northampton-based Sun Group has swum at Mounts Baths, in the town, on the second Sunday of every month.

Everyone Active, which took over the running of the West Northamptonshire Council building in April, said the sessions could not continue because it has been unable to "secure the staffing agreements needed to operate them".

Maggie Moreton, from the organisation, said: "We feel there is no respect for our group."

Alex Pope/BBC A large stone building with three sets of blue doors at its front. At the top of the building is a blue sign that reads "Mounts Baths Health Suite". Alex Pope/BBC
Everyone Active said the sessions could not continue because it has been unable to "secure the staffing agreements needed to operate them"

"Swimming is a delight with no swimsuit on. Newcomers are always welcome to wear a swimsuit, but it doesn't take them long to think this is silly," Moreton said.

The group said people have come from Norwich and Oxford to join the swim session and the monthly meet-up attracts about 80 people aged from 26 to 81.

Moreton told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos that the situation has been "very distressing".

She said the group was told it could run its April and May sessions, but the June session was cancelled.

"Then we were told no more sessions are allowed.

"To have it suddenly taken away from us is bewildering, we feel there is no respect for our group.

"It's a legal group, we can't see the reason, our members are dismayed, because none of us understand it thoroughly," Moreton said.

Alex Pope/BBC The outside of a stone built swimming pools, with blue open doors, and a sign to the left of the doors and a window to the right. A metal railing is also outside the building.Alex Pope/BBC
The council-owned building is run by Everyone Active

A spokesman for Everyone Active said: "We're currently unable to offer naturist swimming sessions at Mounts Baths because we have been unable to secure the staffing agreements needed to operate them.

"We understand this is a change from what's been offered before and may be disappointing to those who took part.

"If circumstances change in the future, we'll review the position and update customers accordingly."

Mark Bass, the president of the Northamptonshire-based organisation British Naturism, said other naturist events happen in other parts of the country.

"We're really keen to make sure this keeps running," he added.

He said he wanted the staff to be "happy and comfortable" but he believed it has been a "knee-jerk reaction".

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