France may historically have taken a liberal attitude towards baring all on the beach, but a new survey has suggested British tourists may want to keep topless sunbathing to the confines of their French property.

The French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP) has uncovered a sea-change in attitudes towards topless sunbathing, with 33 per cent of French women questioned agreeing that baring all on the beach is now a social no-no.

A reported 23 per cent of those surveyed even went so far as to say they would be ‘perturbed’ if confronted by the sight of a topless tourist catching some rays.

However, French property and all-over tan lovers alike will be relieved to know that 57 per cent of the women interviewed agreed that stripping off in the privacy of your own French property garden is entirely acceptable.

A recent study by TravelAdvisor found that Brits on holiday in French property and other sunshine locations spend an average of two hours and 53 minutes per day topping up their tans.

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