COULD Suffolk's most traditional resort - the home of Little Britain's Lay-dees - end up with a naturist beach?That's the question that has got Southwold buzzing during these cold winter days.

COULD Suffolk's most traditional resort - the home of Little Britain's Lay-dees - end with a naturist beach?

That's the question that has got Southwold buzzing during these cold winter days.

Waveney District Council says coastal erosion has led to the loss of so much beach at Corton, near Lowestoft, that the naturist section should now be returned to general use.

At a cabinet meeting this week councillor Keith Patience suggested Southwold as a possible alternative.

He said: “It's been mooted to me by others as a possible alternative. I don't use the beach at Corton myself but it would seem a shame to get rid of the facility completely.

“It does attract a few people to the area. It's possibly more secluded at Southwold than at other places.”

But Southwold mayor Teresa Baggot said: “I don't think it would be a good idea. Southwold has always been a seaside town that people come to with their young children.

“I'm not against naturism but I don't think Southwold is the place to do it. I'm not sure if it would be encouraged - people pay thousands of pounds for their beach huts, I don't think it would go down very well at all.”

Sue Allen, district councillor for Southwold, was at the meeting when Mr Patience made his suggestion.

“It was all very tongue in cheek,” she said. “I suggested that somewhere else could be used and that's when Mr Patience quipped about Southwold.

“However, I don't think any of the beaches are appropriate - Easton Bavents is not big enough.”

The nudist beach was founded by Waveney District Council in the mid-1970s, but officers say coastal erosion has affected Corton so badly that action is needed.