RUNNING almost naked through the streets of Spain with a crowd of other protesters was one couple's way of campaigning against animal cruelty.

Abigail Izzard and Anthony Smith, from Malvern, joined the Running of the Nudes in Pamplona last week, in protest at the town's annual bull run.

Both feel strongly about animal cruelty and joined 1,500 protesters from all over the world for The Running of the Nudes.

The protest began several years ago with just a handful of naked protesters and has grown bigger each year.

It is held to offer tourists a fun alternative to the bull run festival, where stampeding bulls race through the town's streets and are later killed in bull-fights.

Abigail and Anthony ran wearing just thongs, briefs and red neckerchiefs and carrying banners.

"It was an amazing experience," said Abigail. "So many people from so many countries. A lot of them had been before but others, like us, were running for the first time."

The pair plan to join the protest again next summer.

Abigail said: "Crowds lined the street to watch us, local people and tourists.

"There was a lot of support for us, but there's a lot still to do if we want the bull running to stop."

She said more and more Spanish people were turning away from bull fighting and the economic benefits were declining.

The runners carried banners in many languages and gave out leaflets in English and Spanish, outlining their claims of cruelty inherent in the festival.

The Running of the Nudes was organised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). For further details, see www.PETA.org.