Canoe beach nudist plans rejected

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Plans for a naturist area at the beach where back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin vanished have been rejected.

Members of the Three Rivers Outdoor Club, who already use sand dunes at Seaton Carew for nude bathing, said they wanted an "official area".

But Hartlepool councillor Victor Tumilty said the beach was too popular with local people.

Three Rivers club chairman John Thompson said he was disappointed as it would have provided peace of mind.

Seaton Carew beach was the initial setting for the sophisticated scam by John Darwin who - along with his wife Anne - faked his own death in 2002.

It would have just given us peace of mind to know that was an official area John Thompson, naturist

The pair were later jailed for fraud.

Under the naturist plans, signs would have been put up warning visitors they could encounter naked people.

Coun Tumilty, the council's portfolio holder for culture, leisure and transportation, said: "Yes there are people that do take their clothes off but that's mainly in the sand dunes and out of the view of the public gaze.

"But we have people walking to the South Gare and back again every morning. And that was the quandary we were in."

Mr Thompson said naturists would continue to use the sand dunes in the area.

He added: "It would have just given us peace of mind to know that it was an official area.

"In an unofficial area you're always looking round to see if someone's coming so you don't offend them."