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streaking for peace (on Tib Street)

reposter | 30.07.2005 11:35 | Anti-militarism


Wednesday, 20th July 2005

Uncovered - the Tib Street streaker
Rashid Razaq


THE MYSTERY woman who has been running naked through Manchester city centre is a fitness fanatic mum of three who says she is streaking for peace.


Large crowds have been gathering every Friday on Tib Street to see her nude lunchtime sprints, with many shoppers and shopworkers trying to snatch a picture on their camera phones while laughing at the stunt.

Tongues have been wagging about the identity of the streaker, who sports nothing more than a pair of trainers, a scorpion tattoo on her back and a smile.

Now the M.E.N. can reveal the naked jogger is Andrea Hall, 29, from Manchester, who decided to go public with her nude exercise regime to lift the nation's spirits and promote Manchester as the city of peace.

Shouts

Andrea said: "I never thought it would get this much attention. I felt so helpless after the London bombings and I just wanted to bring a smile to people's faces.

"There has been nothing else in the papers or on TV recently. I'm a mother and I was thinking of all the mothers who might have lost someone and this was my way of expressing my freedom."

She sticks to a strict fitness routine to keep in shape and says she has been heartened by the shouts of approval she has received on her sprints. Her first run was the day after the London bombings on July 7 and she went on a second streak a week later. Andrea said: "Tib Street is like our equivalent of Soho and I wanted to promote how it is an open-minded place.

"It might have a seedy side, but it is exciting and has come a long way from the old days.

"I'm proud of being from Manchester and I think that area shows how far the city has come since we were bombed."

Police say they have not received any complaints over the streaking, but Andrea believes she cannot risk running nude again in public.

She said: "I think I would only do it again if it was sponsored for charity. It has been a laugh and it has cheered people up.

"The funniest comment I've probably had is when somebody shouted I was running the wrong way as Tib Street is one way only now."

reposter