Hundreds of naked bike enthusiasts yesterday swarmed through Manchester city centre in a mass show of cycling solidarity.

At 7pm sharp the crowd of bare bikers left All Saints Park on Oxford Road to streak through the city streets – causing crowds of onlookers to stop and stare open-mouthed.

To wolf-whistles and car horns the crowd of male and female cyclists – some with environmental slogans emblazoned across their backs – rode past Central Library, to Albert Square and on to Deansgate , before heading back to where they began.

The bizarre annual event, part of World Naked Bike Ride Day, is now in its ninth year.

Organiser Sean Fitton said there were more than 200 participants for the 2014 event – double last year's turnout.

“It was amazing,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“There were a lot more people here so it was just huge. Nice weather certainly helped for a start.

“I didn't do that much promotion so there must have been an awful lot of word of mouth going on.”

The peaceful event – mirrored the world over – wound its way via the Northern Quarter and Canal Street, giving after-work drinkers an eyeful as they soaked up the evening sun.

Sean said the event aims to be not just a celebration of cycling but to impart a serious message.

There is a huge and growing cycling community in Manchester, he said, particularly around the monthly Critical Mass event, which fills the streets with cyclists on the last Friday of each month.

He added: “What we want is for people to get on their bikes. It's to show cycling is a fun and feasible way to get around.