Club votes to ban women after female guest asked to change TV channel from golf to music

But the simple inquiry by a woman guest at a men-only club sparked an extreme response from male members.

Keen to protect their rights to watch golf on TV they have banned all women from stepping foot in the sports room.

Greg and Jackie Challender are furious they can no longer sit together at the Hopwoood Unionist Club

Instead the room will be a preserve of men who will be free to watch the sport of their choice without fear of music channel interruption.

After bitter campaign members and acrimonious words on both sides they voted 37 to 30 to ban all women from the sports room at the Hopwoood Unionist Club in Rochdale.

The controversial decision has caused a furore in the town with committee members being accused of returning to the 'Dark Ages.'

Jacqueline Challender, 42, who visits the club with her husband Greg, 35, is furious with the decision and branded it sexist.

The mother-of-two often pops in with her husband at the end of the day for a chat with members and their wives.

Mr Challender said: 'Although it is a men-only club, women have been allowed in as guests for many, many years.

'The club was slowly modernising but this has set it back decades. I still can't believe it is allowed to happen in this day and age - it is atrocious.

'Members who decided they didn't want women in the sports room actually went out and canvassed on that issue. I can't believe they didn't feel ashamed.'

Mr Challender, a machine operator who has been a regular at the club for more than 10 years, said: 'Now women are only allowed in the middle room.

'If she wants a drink then I have to get it and pass it over the bar to her in that room. It is totally preposterous and the club is in danger of becoming a laughing stock.'

Members have lodged a complaint with the Association of Conservative Clubs in London in a bid to overturn the ban.

But club secretary, Peter Burt, can see nothing wrong with the ban on women and has dismissed the complaints as `sour grapes'.

He said: 'There was more to it than the TV channel thing. Those who wanted women let in canvassed just as heavily.

'It was a committee decision, now it's a members' decision. It was a democratic process and the vote was advertised, so everyone had the chance to turn up.

'As far as we're concerned that's the end of the matter. It's a men's club and always has been.

'If the vote had gone the other way the members would have accepted it. This sounds like sour grapes.'

The club was first opened in 1883 and the rules governing membership and the exclusion of women were drawn up in 1903.

And while the club has women bar staff, cleaners and helpers, none are allowed to become full members of the club.

The Sex Discrimination Act, which became law 28 years ago, does not apply to private clubs which are able to draw up their own rules and regulations.

Only last week, the Heaton Moor Conservative Club in Stockport, Cheshire lifted a 127-year ban on women.