People visiting the Brittany town of St Malo have been warned not to expose too much flesh in a bid to keep cool.

The mayor has declared it an offence to walk in the town in a swimsuit, bare-chested or “in any indecent manner of dress.”

The only exception to the rule is within areas where swimming can take place.

Temperatures in the holiday resort, bordering the English Channel, reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit earlier this month, but have now fallen to a more comfortable average of 79 degrees.

Police officers are under orders to give a verbal warning to anyone not sufficiently covered, but have powers to write out a fine for an unspecified amount for failure to comply.