It was Friday the 30th of September 2005, the time was 07.30hrs, and nineteen men aged between 18 and 60 were facing the biggest challenge of their lives so far.

A stag weekend, not any stag weekend, but a stag weekend to Bratislava. I hear you say: "What's so bad about that?"

The problem they were all faced with, is they all had to travel as women.

We had to meet at York train station, catch a train to Manchester airport, then fly to Bratislava.

These so-called butch men of York with jobs like motor mechanic, PE instructor and prison officer, were scared...very scared.

It was rush hour on York station, and the wolf whistles started to ring around the old Victorian building.

Women stood and laughed out loud; young children looked on in sheer shock and horror.

One small boy looked at one of the stags, then looked at his mum and said: "Why has that lady got a beard?" His mother could not not answer for tears of laughter.

The brave men of York thought they had braved the worst: how wrong they could have been?

At first it was all nice, men on the train were giving up their seats,and one young man didn't know what to do apart from putting his head deep into his paper and keeping it there, on the same page, for 2hrs.

We arrived at Manchester airport, got into the main building. It was like arriving at a saloon on an old Western movie.Everything just stopped as people looked towards all 19 of us and went silent.

The only thing that was missing was the tumbleweed. We all looked at each other, red-faced and still.

Then one of the lads said: "Come on girls, let's mince it!"

Led by the stag in his union-jack dress with knee-length boots, we stood tall like women of today should, and walked proud.

We were followed by a huge roar of laughter. This was the welcome we received right up to the passport control. We then had to remove wigs, go through the x-ray and metal detector and be searched. The problem was, the staff didn't know who should search us, a man or a woman.

We arrived in Bratislava red-faced, but deep down loving every minute.

The guide took one look at us and ran onto the coach and locked the doors.

It was at this point that we convinced the guide we would get changed soon as we got to the hotel.

Bratislava was the greatest weekend of my 33 years, and at 30p a pint and even better-looking women than ourselves, I'm not surprised.

I would like to thank all the staff at Help the Aged, Acomb( for the dresses) and Nick Mole(the stag) for making this weekend possible.

Site Editor's note

Andrew and his mates cut quite a dash even before they embarked on their epic journey to Bratislava. Three of them were spotted trying on frocks in the charity shop Andy mentions.

Their antics prompted a woman to write to the Evening Press, thanking them for giving her 'the best laugh I've had in a long time'.

Thanks to Andy, we can all enjoy the joke now. Well done, lads!

Updated: 11:49 Saturday, October 15, 2005

Your comments:

What good sports these lads are they looked great. It is nice to see harmless fun and banter from young men - makes a great change, well done.

Hellen, York

Dear readers,

Unfortunately I now have to marry this man. Should I be having second thoughts, as he has my knickers on today????????

Love Lindsay

Chief Stag's bride-tobe, Lindsay Hodgson

I have the pleasure of working with the lovely young lady, Lindsay, who is to marry this man.... I have to say for the last two weeks she has been concerned about her disappearing clothes....

Jaki Jennings, Selby