Naked Rambler rearrested on his release from Edinburgh prison

The former Royal Marine was stopped by officers as he passed through the gates of Edinburgh's Saughton Prison. He was jailed for two weeks on 9 September after being found guilty of a breach of the peace while on his naked walk covering the length of Britain.

The 46-year-old from Bournemouth was released last Friday after serving half his sentence but did not make it beyond the gates before being stopped.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that Gough was arrested on Friday after refusing to get dressed as he left prison. Gough appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that day to face a charge of breach of the peace. He was released on bail and will appear in court in December.

Gough yesterday vowed to continue his marathon walk of Britain, despite the latest arrest.

Accompanied by his girlfriend, Melanie Roberts, 34, who is also walking naked, he resumed the walk yesterday. He crossed through Edinburgh and over the Forth Road Bridge, reaching his current location, north of Inverkeithing, Fife.

Mr Gough said: "I think the thing that we are standing for is really something everyone should be concerned about: how we feel about ourselves.

"We talk about human rights and the dignity of man and yet man in his natural state is locked up. It's crazy. It does not make sense.

"We are supposed to be reasonable, our justice system is based on reason, and yet I'm being put away as if I'm some sort of disgusting animal. I'm just a human being."

The pair, who are being accompanied on their trek by a television crew, plan to walk to John o' Groats, via Pitlochry, the Cairngorms and Inverness. The route should take them two weeks if they are not stopped by police.

Earlier this month, Ms Roberts, who had been walking with Mr Gough, pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Sentence on her was deferred until 10 March, 2006 and she was told to be on good behaviour.