World Naked Bike Ride: Hundreds of cyclists strip off and paint their bodies for annual event

Wearing little more than helmets, the cyclists stunned passerby as they rode through the streets this morning

These were the eye-popping scenes this morning as hundreds of cyclists stripped off to participate in the 2016 World Naked Bike Ride .

The annual event, which took place for the final time in Melbourne, Australia, today, saw around 200 nude men and women ride through the streets.

Wearing little more than helmets and shoes, the participants stunned passersby as they completed the 9.3-mile route around Albert Park and St Kilda.

Although clothing was optional, riders were encouraged to be 'as bare as they dare'.

Some scrawled messages across their bodies, informing onlookers about the importance of environmental issues, nudism and cyclist safety.

However, others chose to pen more humorous messages on themselves.

Read more: TV newsreader gives us the naked truth - by presenting bulletins bra-less

The bike ride has been running for several years in various cities across the world, but was held for the last time in Melbourne today.

Organiser Dallas Goldburg told The Age that this was because the event was 'a lot of work' to organise.