Some people who use Fraisthorpe beach, near Bridlington, say East Riding Council has gone beyond its powers with "scary" signs which suggest nude sunbathers may face prosecution.

They say recent legislation confirms that nudity is not illegal in an established location and the beach has been used by naturists for decades.

The online petition adds: "The councils (sic) are relying on the fear of prosecution to impose their will. Councils which put up signs like this should be forced to take them down, be fined and have to apologise publicly."

Spokesman Max Pratt, of Fraisthorpe United Naturists, one of whose members launched the petition, said: "The sign says any person committing an act of indecency will be liable to prosecution, but being naked is not indecent. They are mixing the two up.

"If there are people breaking the law that's an issue of law enforcement, but you can't persecute a minority group for the actions of other people."

The regional representative for British Naturism, John Wymark-Hoar, said the signs were a "total slur" on naturists. He added: "The signs imply that naturism is indecency and we are guilty of acts of indecency.

"They wouldn't do that to any other minority group of the East Riding.

"We attended a meeting with Humberside Police last year and they confirmed that they wouldn't be taking any action against naturists but they would always reserve the right to investigate reports of criminal activity – which could come from ourselves."

However, those people who simply want to enjoy the sun naked have been tarred with the same brush as exhibitionists who come to the beach for sex. Despite the council's actions, Fraisthorpe is still advertised on "dogging" websites as a naturist's beach, offering "some action", but tellingly warning: "Do not offend the genuine naturists."

Farmer Robin Jackson, whose family has been running a beachside car park since before the Second World War, said the signs should stay.

He said: "If the naturists would keep it to simple naturism they would have still continued but they didn't and it turned out that it became a no-go area.

"That's why the designated area was taken away and it wants to remain that way. Putting up the signs (means) we have families back again and the whole area has come from a no-go area to a place which people can enjoy. If they want the designated area back there will be a great uproar."

Ward councillor Jane Evison accused naturists of "mischief-making" and added: "I don't think there's any doubt about what the signs are and what they are saying.

"Fraisthorpe is not a designated beach and as such the council is within its rights to say it is not a designated beach," she said.

"As a ward councillor my residents tell me they don't want it to be a naturist beach."

The beach, three miles south of Bridlington, was a recognised nudist area until the former East Yorkshire Borough Council decided to remove the designation.