Ananova:

Naked ramblers have complained that the police were heavy-handed in marshalling their charity walk.

About 20 naked walkers were reportedly followed by 10 officers, patrol cars and a helicopter on a 20-mile hike in Dorset.

They were walking from Swanage to Lulworth Cove on June 2 to raise money for the Marine Conservation Society.

But senior police decided the group posed a public risk and marshalled the naturists under a carefully-planned operation codenamed Thistle.

Bernard Boase, 63, was asked to cover up by a police officer halfway through the walk.

He refused and was arrested and charged with harassment - but the case was later dropped because of a lack of evidence.

"The police harassed us far more than we could have harassed anybody else by our presence," said Mr Boase.

"The second shift of officers got very heavy-handed, going up to passers-by suggesting that they might like to make complaints."

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "The Jurassic Coastal Path is a busy tourist area with the path being used by more than 200 people on a summer Saturday, including significant numbers of children and older people.

"We received a total of 18 complaints from the public about nudity during the walk."