A BATTLE of the sexes is being fought at a York club where women are banned from the games room.

Some men at Huntington Working Men's Club refuse to relax a 70-year-old rule that keeps the room a male preserve for most of the week.

Now a TV expos is about to air the local war before a much wider audience.

The YTV programme, The Men Only Room, filmed a members' vote which went against the introduction of women to the games room. Women can only enter the room at lunch times and to buy drinks from the bar.

Among the comments made by men featured in the programme are:

"Women will never be equal to a man."

"I take my wife out once a year and she's perfectly happy."

"A woman's place is in the home."

Traditionalist Phil Harrison told the programme he wants his territory defended.

Phil, of New Earswick, said: "I just don't want them (women) in. It's been a men-only room since the club opened 70 years ago, so why should things change now?

"They're allowed in other parts of the club and they should be happy with that. The language isn't that tame in the games room."

Asked about the comments featured in the programme, Phil said: "I don't think a lot of the men knew they were being filmed. But I personally think women should be in a corral, then you could take them out as and when you want one."

But Phil's friend and fellow member, Ian Butcher, has defended the women's point of view. He said: "I think those who don't want women are dinosaurs really.

"I think it's hypocritical to let women in for just two days a year - Christmas and New Year - and not at other times. I think Huntington is the only club in York with this stance."

Ian's wife, Pauline, said: "We just want to be able to play games like dominoes, darts and watch TV in the games room.

"As for the swearing, some of the women can outswear the men. It's all about having the choice."

Pauline said the idea of a partition wall for the games room had been discussed by the committee, but as yet nothing had come to fruition.

The programme also visits Bootham and Monk Ward Conservative Club, which has taken on an equal rights policy.

Secretary William Owen said: "We celebrate our centenary next year and we've decided to join the 21st century by almost unanimously voting to have women as full members."

The programme can be seen at 10.30pm on July 3.