Topless Men Banned From 'Family Friendly' Southend Theme Park, Despite Previous Naked Events

No Topless Men Thanks, This Is A Family Theme Park
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A theme park in Essex, which has previously hosted two world record attempts involving naked people, has banned men from removing their shirts, saying it wants to be "family friendly".

'Wear your shirt' signs have gone up around Adventure Island in Southend, while security guards will be put on standby to enforce the new policy and ensure men do not bare their chests, it has been reported.

Men exposing themselves did not appear to bother the theme park in 2010, when it hosted an attempt to beat the world record for the number of naked people on a roller coaster, when 102 rode the Green Scream.

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The theme park previously hosted 102 naked people on a roller coaster in a world record-breaking bid

Managing director Marc Miller told The Essex Chronicle: "We don’t have a strict dress code as such, but would like our male customers to show some decorum.

“In recent years, we’ve seen increasing numbers of lads and men whipping their tops off, eager to make the most of the sun – which is understandable of course, as Southend is the warmest and driest part of the UK.

He added: “That’s absolutely fine in the right environment, but we try very hard to be a family-focused business and not everybody is a fan of bare chests.”

"Of course, we don’t want people to think that we’re introducing a nightclub-style policy of no jeans or trainers.

"We’ll simply point out that if you want to pose semi-naked, then Southend has miles of glorious beaches on which to do that.”

As well as the 2010 world record attempt, the park hosted a 2012 attempt to break the record for most number of naked people playing mini-golf.

A spokeswoman for the park told the BBC no members of the public were present when either event took place.

She said: "The only people present were those who had signed up to take part in order to raise a large amount of cash for charities - Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer. The topless ban is related to when the park is open to the public."