A men-only club is facing a revolt by modernisers determined to let women join.

Wallingford Comrades Club was founded in 1919 by officers returning from the First World War.

Women are barred from membership and can only drink at the bar at weekends.

Moves to change the rule have been attempted every year for a decade, but growing support for a change has forced a special meeting to be called this year.

Officials at the club, which has about 500 members, refused to comment.

About 100 use it on a monthly basis, but only about 40 go every week.

The leading member campaigning for the change declined to give his name, adding: "I've been a member 25 years and I know how acrimonious things can get.

"I believe the club has to change or it will close down and I don't want to see that happen.

"Because women are not allowed to be members, few men go there regularly and the bar takings are down.

"The club has relied on its share portfolio -- but over the last two years the value of that has plummeted."

He said the club would prove popular with people who wanted an alternative to noisy pubs and clubs, but who were deterred by the ban on admitting women.

The club is also keen to attract more businesspeople in the town, but critics of the club's traditional stance fear it will struggle to recruit new members unless it changes.