Temperatures have soared to the 20s in Essex this week, with people dusting off their summer wardrobes to take advantage of the heat.

Eager to top up their tans, locals have stripped down to their shorts, t-shirts and swimming costumes to bask in the glorious sunshine.

But why stop there? Surely there's no better way of cooling down than being naked?

If you're feeling a bit cheeky, there are plenty of nudist beaches within an hour's drive of Essex where you can ditch the duds and chill out.

ESSEX

St Osyth beach, Clacton

St Osyth, Clacton

Essex has one official nudist beach, in St Osyth in Clacton. It's been a nudist beach for decades and is well-known in the region. It's said to be divided into three sections by the dunes – one for families, one for gay men and one for swingers.

The beach is mainly sandy with some grass and shingle. Sandals and something to lie on are recommended. The grassy dunes at the rear of the beach provide shelter and opportunities for a stroll.

There are no facilities on the beach itself but there are cafes and amusements within walking distance.

How to get there:

The naturist part of the beach is on the north coast (but south facing). To get there you have to travel along Beach Road in Hutley's Caravan Park (not connected to the nudist beach), and go as far as the sea wall. You turn right (west) and walk for approx. one mile until you reach the naturist beach.

Bradwell beach

Bradwell-on-Sea

There is an 'unofficial' nudist beach at Bradwell. This is a section of the beach where nudity is generally accepted locally even though it isn't designated as a nudist area.

As with a lot of nudist beaches, there are no facilities. So you need to take your own food, drinks and supplies. This is the Essex coast so it can get a bit windy so a windbreak is advisable.

You have to really want to visit this beach as it's not easy to get there. If you park at St Peters Chapel free car park, it's an approx 25 minute walk from there.

How to get there

At the sea wall, turn left and follow the footpath along the sea wall. Follow the sea wall until it ends, you'll see a sandy beach and then continue along until you see a WW2 pill-box. This is seen as the start of the unofficial nudist area.

KENT

While we're not flush with nudist beaches in Essex, Kent seems to have them in abundance.

There are at least four known nudist beaches in the Garden of England.

Botany Bay beach

Botany Bay – Margate

The area to the north of the main beach has long been used by nudists.

It's a short walk from the main beach and is a sandy strip with low sand dunes and cliffs behind it. Most naturists can be found in the dunes of on the edge. Walkers along the cliffs can see onto the nudist area but there are rarely any problems.

There are no facilities on the nudist beach but the kiosk and toilets at the main section of Botany Bay are only a short walk away.

How to get there

From the main beach, turn left and it's about a half-a-mile walk.

Abbott's Cliff – Folkestone

Abbott's Cliff – Folkestone

This is an unofficial nudist beach but it's been used as one for a long time and is widely tolerated.

The beach is pebbly and has a lot of shingle, so it's best to take something to sit on. The beach is backed by high chalk cliffs and there are occasional cliffs falls so it's advisable to sit nearer the shore. Although there is a no-nudity by-law in Folkestone, it's thought that this beach is exempt as the stretch of beach is owned by the railway authority.

How to get there

Walk along the sea wall from the Eastern Pleasure Beach and it's about a two-mile walk.

Leysdown – Isle of Sheppey

Leysdown – Isle of Sheppey

This is an official nudist beach which is a mixture of sand, shingle and mud.

It's quite popular with clothes-wearing beach walkers (known as textiles) but there are rarely any issues. There are good views of the Thames Estuary to be enjoyed as you relax in the sun.

There are no facilities on the nudist beach, but there are refreshments and toilets in Leysdown.

How to get there

From the main beach at Leysdown, walk approx. half a mile beyond (south-east) to the nudist section beach which is called Shellness.

Sandwich Bay

Sandwich Bay

This is definitely an unofficial nudist beach.

The area popular with nudists is at the north end of the beach, about a mile's walk from the main car park. There seems to have a few protests from some locals who are unhappy about the naturists and the police have been involved. However, the law states that it is not a crime to be naked in public as long as the person doesn't intend to cause distress. Naturists have advised walking a good distance from the local golf course.

There are low dunes behind the beach and when the tide is out there is a nice sandy beach, which is great for walks and sunbathing.

There are no facilities on the nudist beach, but there are lots of amenities in Sandwich itself.

How to get there

On most routes to the beach you have to pay a toll to sue the roads (approx £7) as it's a private estate. At the seafront drive, drive to the very end and then it's about a 15-minute walk north.

Nudity and the law

It is not actually illegal to be naked in England and Wales.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 states that it becomes an offence if the person strips off with the intent to cause distress, alarm or outrage.

You can be prosecuted for intentional harassment, alarm or distress under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986

You can be prosecuted for outraging public decency under common law

In court, the prosecution would have to prove that the intention of the defendant was to upset and cause distress.

If a person is found guilty of one of these offences, they could face a fine or a prison sentence.

Since 2003, Stephen Gough, known as the Naked Rambler, has been repeatedly arrested in England and Scotland for being naked in public. He has been told many times to cover up by the court, and when he refused, has been given a prison sentence after being found in contempt of court.