Bare cheek of it! London's legendary No Pants Day returns as tube riders take off their pants in the underground in a bizarre annual tradition

Londoners have once again stripped down to their underwear to grace the Tube as part of the legendary annual No Trouser Tube Ride.

Hundreds of half-naked partygoers took to the London Underground today to take part in the tradition.

Event organizers met hundreds of participants in Chinatown, in Soho, at 3pm before leading everyone to a nearby tube station and asking everyone to strip naked despite the prospect of a major strike, which was called off earlier this evening.

Londoners wore their best and gayest trousers. One person was seen casually checking his phone while wearing bright pink pants.

Another was seen carrying their dog in a small shopping cart, wearing little more than a pair of black shoes and a white knit sweater.

People take part in the annual 'No Pants On The Tube Day' at Liverpool Station, on the London Underground

Hundreds of people were seen walking around the metro network with their belongings this evening

A man was seen casually checking his phone while wearing bright pink underpants

A woman took her dog for a walk in a shopping cart, wearing little more than a white knit sweater and a pair of black shoes

Not all Tube riders seemed to be aware of the event, with one poor woman looking shocked as she carried her suitcase while surrounded by partially clad fellow riders.

Dozens of participants in the event, which has a 20-year history that started across the pond, are currently holding an after-party at The Chandos pub on St Martin's Lane, near Covent Garden.

Dave Selkirk, who single-handedly organized this year's event, told MailOnline: 'I'm extremely happy with the event, the atmosphere was incredible. Everyone had a great time, and we even got a shoutout from two subway drivers as we boarded.

“It was my first year doing it myself, and I wasn't sure how well it would go, but it went exceptionally smoothly.”

Earlier today, event organizers said they had changed their plans slightly in preparation for the RMT tube strike, which was called off at the eleventh hour after the union 'made progress in talks with TfL.'

The event is part of the global No Pants Subway Ride, which started in New York in 2002 and has since spread to more than 60 cities around the world.

Some poor traveler was apparently in the middle of the event at Euston Station, unaware that the event was taking place

Many attend the event in everyday office clothes

Since 2009, Londoners have without exception stripped down for the event, with the action only taking a break during the pandemic

Although Londoners have been stripping down on the Tube since 2009, this quirky tradition was created in 2002 by Improv Everywhere, a comedy performance art group, in New York City.

“The mission started as a joke with seven boys and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating every year,” Improv Everywhere's website says.

Photos taken during the high-profile event show people casually riding the subway, nonchalantly taking off their pants in indifference.

“As soon as the doors close at the stop before yours, stand up, take off your pants and put them in your backpack,” the group says.

“If someone asks you why you took off your pants, tell them they 'started to feel uncomfortable' (or something along those lines.”

Londoners unashamedly stripped off to take part in the annual tradition

The day is now marked in more than 60 cities around the world

The idea behind 'No Pants' is that random passengers board a subway at separate stops in the middle of winter, without wearing pants

Although Londoners have been stripping down on the Tube since 2009, this quirky tradition was created in 2002 by Improv Everywhere, a comedy performance art group, in New York City.

Since 2009, Londoners have without exception stripped down for the event, with the action only taking a break during the pandemic.

Although the London event was previously organized by the Stiff Upper Lip Society, the group has since relinquished control of the event, claiming there was no longer a need for it.

Dave Selkirk previously told Secret London: 'It has been a popular event for years because it is purely for fun. It's a very welcoming crowd and photos over the years show what a great time everyone is having.

'With all the sadness and seriousness that exists in the world today, it's a privilege to live in London and have an event like this where we can just let go and have fun.

'I've been involved as a group leader and organizer for six years, and when Stuff Upper Lip said they wouldn't be doing it this year I decided I wanted to keep it going.

“Stiff Upper Lip felt like it had run its course, I feel like there's still a huge demand for it, and there's still a big upside to holding on to it.”

He told MailOnline he wants next year's event to be even bigger and better, with different groups traveling to different parts of the city.