A Battersea man will bare all to help save the planet by taking part in a mass naked bike ride.

Martin Ireland will be shedding his threads along with thousands of others to take part in London's fourth annual World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday.

The 42-year-old believes this will be a record breaking year for the ride and predicts more than 3,000 may join the clothing optional ride against oil dependency, cyclists rights and car culture.

He said: "Cycling naked may seem a strange thing to do, but more and more people feel at a loss to do something to protest at what is going on internationally on the environmental front and the perpetual stalemate over the Kyoto agreement. The protest exposes the inconsistencies of Government policies in regard to environmental issues and climate change."

The ride, which starts from Achilles Statue in Hyde Park at around 3pm, will pass down some of the busiest and best known parts of the capital including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Downing Street.

The Met Police granted approval for the ride and for participants to cycle naked.

Mr Ireland said: "I found that while talking to other cyclists, there were lawyers, police officers, teachers, firemen, nurses, dinner ladies, artists, social security officers, and many, many others from all walks of life in this human leveler of activity."

For more information go to worldnakedbikeride.org/uk.