Thousands of people of every age and size strip naked and are painted blue for Sea of Hull art display

Some 3,200 volunteers walked the city's streets for the event... and were pictured outside Hull's historic sites

THOUSANDS of people stripped naked and were painted blue earlier today, as they walked the streets of Hull as part of an art installation to celebrate the city’s seafaring heritage.

It was the largest event of its kind ever to be staged in the UK, with 3,200 volunteers taking part, and the vision of New York-based artist Spencer Tunick.

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‘It’s always wonderful to see the various-sized people covered in paint walking through the streets of a city I admire’

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Walking along the Scale Lane bridge

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‘It took off like a rocket from day one, with an overwhelming number of people signing up’

Sea of Hull involved people from 20 countries across the globe – among them 80-year-old Arizona-based Belgian Stephane Janssen, who has posed for him 20 times before.

The group were painted in four different shades of blue body paint, before posing for pictures at Hull’s historic sites – including the former Queens Dock, which is now a park, the Guildhall, and the award-winning Scale Lane swing bridge.

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At the famous Queens Dock park

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A volunteer smokes an electronic cigarette after participating

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'The photo incorporates some of the city’s unique locations'

The display will be one of the highlights of the Ferens Art Gallery’s 2017 programme.

Tunick said: "The Sea of Hull installation was one of the most fantastic projects I've ever done, and it was inspiring to be able to intertwine the city's maritime heritage against an urban backdrop throughout the whole piece.

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Outside the fantastic Guildhall

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It managed to stay dry for the event... but some still felt a bit chilly

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Artist Spencer Tunick orchestrated the event

"The photo incorporates some of the city's unique locations including the architectural steel-structured masterpiece that is Scale Lane Bridge, framed by Georgian and Victorian buildings, adding to the striking shots captured during the installation.