Men may be banned from daring to bare their chests

Natalie 07-26-2006

Men may be barred from baring their chests - and stomachs - in public under new local laws being considered by town halls.

They would stop men stripping off their shirts in crowded town centres and give powers to police to remove any who defy the cover-up laws.

The proposal has been inspired by the least attractive side effect of the heatwave - the tendency of a number of often middle-aged men to go about in nothing more than shorts and trainers.

Last week the Daily Mail highlighted the wave of revulsion among most of the public at the summer's least welcome fashion trend, and pictured a series of the worst examples in the hope of shaming offenders into keeping their T-shirts on.

Now local authorities have been circulated with a scheme for using by-laws to require shirts in town centres and to brand men who won't wear them as anti-social.

The laws would operate in a similar manner to local statutes that ban drinking on the streets or which prevent gangs of youths from congregating.

The politician behind the plan is former local government minister Nicholas Bennett, who has canvassed councils across the country for support.