Heads were turned and eyebrows raised last week when a site meeting on the Lizard Peninsula was interrupted by a man emerging from the bushes naked from the waist down.

Locals and developers alike were left speechless when the man, wearing only a shirt pulled down with both hands, shuffled out of the hedge.

As the group watched open mouthed, the man – believed to be in his forties – hobbled to the gateway repeating: “Sorry, I’ve got no shorts.”

He then got in his car and drove away. The site meeting was taking place on land at Trevassack Quarry, on Goonhilly Downs, where Charteroak Estates want to build ten eco holiday homes.

The application was turned down by Cornwall Council in January and the meeting was part of an appeal by Charteroak.