Update issued on naked swimming at Northampton pool after 44-year tradition was stopped in summer

Everyone Active took over the running of West Northamptonshire Council's leisure centres on April 1, on a 10-year contract, replacing Trilogy Active.

Following that move, almost 200 members of Northampton Sun Club were told in June that their monthly naked swimming sessions at Mounts Baths had been cancelled.

The club had held the sessions at the pool since 1982, with members paying £10 for a swim and access to the sauna, steam room, plunge pool and Turkish baths.

Members were given just two days' notice before their usual monthly session.

At the time, Everyone Active said the group had breached its swimsuit policy and that it could not secure the staffing agreements needed to run the sessions.

Club treasurer David Farnsworth, 51, said: “It’s discrimination because the management simply don’t like the idea of what we are doing.

“We have been holding these monthly naturist swims for decades with no issues and we now have more than 190 members who are bitterly disappointed.”

In August, Everyone Active said it was in discussions to find a way to bring the sessions back.

But the operator has now confirmed they cannot currently take place.

Simon Fearn, regional contract manager, 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.”