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‘The naked cowboy’ rounded up by police

Rebecca Peacock
10/ 4/2008

AN AGEING naked cowboy was arrested for strutting his stuff around the town centre – with just his stetson and boots to hide his modesty.

The pensioner, strolled from a sunbed shop in Middleton Gardens into the Harbord Harbord pub on a busy weekday afternoon.

It is believed the man had taken up the challenge as part of a bet after being spurred on by a friend who was celebrating a birthday.

One shocked onlooker said: "I couldn't believe my eyes. It was like a scene from the wild west, not something you'd expect to see on the street."

A member of staff at the Wetherspoons hostelry said a group of friends had been in the pub celebrating a birthday.

She added: "A man was in here with some friends, he got out his guitar and started playing. But we’re not allowed music in here so we mentioned it a few times and asked him to stop.

"Then he went over to the sunbed shop and came back just wearing boots and a cowboy hat, walked round the bar to his friends and then back out onto the street.

"He came back a couple of minutes later fully dressed as he had left his coat and guitar behind."

Staff barred the 65-year-old on his return.

The girls from the Sun and Beauty Spot – where the lone ranger discarded most of his clothes – said: "He came in wearing his clothes and went in the stand-up sunbed for 10 minutes. But when he came out he was naked apart from a cowboy hat and boots. Then he went back across the road to Wetherspoons.

"About two minutes later he was back and went back on a sunbed and came out fully clothed. He just said ‘Sorry ladies it was a bet’."

Thankfully most of the ladies were busy with clients but were still shocked by the incident.

"There were two workmen outside who saw him. One of them said ‘Last time we were in Middleton there was an armed robbery and now a naked man’. We just laughed and said it’s just another day in Middleton."

Police have confirmed a 65-year-old man has been bailed after he was arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure.

The arrest followed reports a man was spotted walking naked through Middleton town centre and inquiries are continuing.

WERE you the naked cowboy or do you know him? Call the newsdesk on 0161 643 3615.