When I said paint over the cracks...

NATURIST DECORATOR'S BRUSH WITH THE LAW AFTER COPS ARE CALLED OVER HIS BOTTICELLI

- HELEN LE CAPLAIN & STEPHEN TOPPING

POLICE were called after a decorator was spotted painting the outside of his friend's house completely naked apart from his boots.

Naturist Stuart Gilmour was 26ft up a ladder outside Maria Goodey's house in Middleton when the 'giggling' officer arrived.

The 45-year-old's unique decorating style had already been brought to the attention of neighbours, as Maria sent them a note asking them to 'please be kind! But after hearing the whirring of an electric car pulling up where he was working, Stuart turned round to see the police had been called.

After shuffling down the ladder, Stuart explained he was a naturist who had Maria's permission to be nude, before he says the cop wished him well and drove off.

Stuart, from Middleton, said: "One female officer came out. It was an electric car so it sounded a bit strange, I looked round and saw that it was a police car.