Students at Oxford University have been threatened with disciplinary action for repeatedly stripping off in the library.

Dozens of scholars at Worcester College take their clothes off for a bizarre 'half-naked half-hour' every Wednesday afternoon.

But outraged members of the college's Library Committee have banned the tradition after a string of complaints.

An Oxford University library (not the one pictured) has banned a 'half-naked half-hour' by students at Worcester College

Librarians sent an email to the college saying the practice was 'unacceptable' and 'a distraction to other readers'.

High-profile visitors including heads of state regularly visit the library as part of the tour of the university.

Concerned librarians warned students: 'While half-naked half-hour may have seemed like a piece of harmless fun, we ask you please to stop this kind of behaviour in the library.

'If inappropriate behaviour continues, library staff will refer the matter to the Dean.

'It is not appropriate for groups of people to organise social or other kinds of events in the library without the permission of the librarian.'  

The tradition of stripping off at the Worcester College library (pictured) was started in 2009 by a group of students calling themselves 'The Breakfast Club'

A group of students, calling themselves 'The Breakfast Club', started the tradition of stripping off in 2009 to brighten up boring revision days.

Up to 40 male and female students strip to the waist in the lower library for a 30-minute period between 3pm and 4pm every Wednesday.

They continue working before putting their clothes back on 30 minutes later. Members of the Breakfast Club reacted angrily to the ban, claiming it had 'quite literally left our college in a state of chaos'. 

One member told student paper Cherwell: 'It came as a great shock to most of the college and scenes in the lower library that day were those of confusion and disarray.

'Half-naked half-hour has long been a tradition at Worcester College as a way of breaking up the monotony of a long day's revision and using the opportunity to cool down during the hottest periods of the day.' 

Chloe Cesar, a first-year Worcester student, said she backed the ban.

She added: 'I can see why the college decided to ban half-naked half-hour.

'For visitors to the library I expect it must have seemed a bit weird and I'm not surprised college took the action they did.'

By Daily Mail