The Friday Club has been meeting for the past 27 years, allowing members to enjoy a relaxing dip – au naturale.

But, the closure of pools across the North East has meant the group have been forced to shift from place to placee.

So, in October, they thought they had struck gold when they were given exclusive use of Newcastle Road Baths in Fulwell, Sunderland.

But it too is now due to close, leaving John Thompson and his fellow naturists high and dry.

John, 64, said: "It's a shame that Newcastle Road is closing down because it is a really nice baths.

"Unfortunately, I don't know where we will swim after that as modern glass palaces don't lend themselves to our activity."

The monthly swim and sauna sessions started in Sunderland in October and all who attend have to be members of a naturist club.

Over the years the swims have attracted up to 30 people a session. Now it averages around 10, but John is hoping that more people will join to keep the event going.

John, who is membership secretary of Tynedale and Newcastle District Outdoor Club and secretary of Three Rivers Outdoor club, explained: "People are realising that being naked is not sexy, it's just normal.

"Naturists are just people who enjoy doing activities without clothes on. Hopefully we will be able to build the club up again.

"We are also always looking for farmers' fields to host our camping trips, which can last up to five days. It just needs to be somewhere reasonably secluded where people who don't want to be involved in naturism won't be offended."

Speaking about the naturists' use of Newcastle Road Baths, Alison O'Neill, assistant head of community services at Sunderland City Council, said: "This is a group booking of one of our facilities which we've treated in the same way as we'd treat any booking from the many sporting and other groups who hire the pool for private sessions.

"As is the case with all group bookings, the sessions are limited to those within the group and are not open to members of the general public, nor is the building accessible to the general public during the sessions."