CHILDREN were in a primary school playground when a naturist wearing only his training shoes and socks cycled past, Bournemouth magistrates heard yesterday.

Electrical engineer Richard Collins, 54, was arrested later that day as he prepared to embark upon the Sandbanks chain ferry after cycling along Bournemouth seafront in the buff last summer.

The father-of-two from Hardwick, Cambridge, denies causing harassment, alarm or distress during his nude seven-mile cycle from his friend Robert James’s home in Moordown on June 30.

Giving evidence for the defence, former naturist magazine journalist Mr James described Collins as “a naturist activist” and recalled how they had cycled to Corfe Castle and back on the previous day.

He added: “For a great part of that journey we were both naked and had no problem whatsoever even though we encountered a considerable number of members of the public.”

Mr James told the court how their route had taken them past St Luke’s Church of England Primary School in Winton adding: “Richard was a bit nervous about going past a school – we just cycled quickly past it.”

During cross-examination by prosecutor Simon Jones, Mr James, who described himself as “an academic lawyer”, added: “I could hear the sound of children but it was difficult to take a different route because of the one-way system.”

Referring to the day of Collins’ arrest, Mr James said: “I saw no reaction until we got to the pier and a woman came out of a café to take photographs of Richard.”

He told the court how he and a friend, who were both dressed, had travelled behind Collins because the promenade was busy that afternoon and to “gauge public reaction”.

Describing other police forces as “more enlightened” than Dorset, Mr James said he hadn’t cycled naked that day because he “didn’t want the hassle” and had decided to “wimp out of confrontation”.

He added: “If you’re wearing trainers and socks you are not naked.”

The case continues.