Stockholm - A new Bed & Breakfast inn that caters mainly to naturists is likely to fuel Sweden's reputation for "sin".

The Hylteberga gard B&B, due to open on an old farm in southern Sweden, is touted as probably the first such inn that caters to naturists in Sweden, if not Scandinavia.

So in that respect, Sweden has lagged behind the likes of the Netherlands, Spain or Germany.

Owner Steffen Brummer Pind and his wife were in mid May due to receive their first paying guests.

"Guests will live in the former stables," he laughed.

Brummer Pind said family and friends, who were invited to celebrate his 60th birthday at the end of April, were to help "try out" the four rooms to make sure everything was in proper order.

The location near Skurup in the southern province of Skane, offers easy access to the southern town of Ystad, several nudist beaches within an hour's drive as well as golfing, and heritage sites including famous castles and mansions, Brummer Pind said.

Ystad has attracted visitors and tours in recent years since the town served as a backdrop for writer Henning Mankell's character, Police inspector Kurt Wallander.

The novels have been translated into several languages and also filmed for television and films.

Brummer Pind, a former news and documentary photographer with Swedish broadcaster SVT, said he recently decided to pursue his new venture after an offer of early retirement.

Earlier he and his wife operated a website for naturists.

The farm has a small creek where guests may cool off and even fish, but the beaches at Sandhammaren, Backakra and Skanor were likely to attract most visitors.

The B&B also offers a sauna and peaceful vistas of the countryside.

"Clothes were optional" at the farm, Brummer Pind said, but "guests have to accept that other guests may be naked or very lightly dressed."

Advance bookings have already been received, he said.

Neighbours and local authorities have been advised about the venture and were "very supportive" as were other B&B inns in the region that are grouped in a joint network, Brummer Pind said.

He did not rule out spotting the odd "giraffe" on the grounds, referring to the term naturists in neighbouring Denmark use for curious bystanders who try to peep at someone in the nude.

More details on the internet: www. hyltebergagard. se and www. sydkusten. se. (dpa)