WOMEN from York working men's clubs were today hoping the men would finally let them in out of the cold.

Jackie Medley, secretary of Bishopthorpe Social Club, has travelled to the Club and Institutes' Union (CIU) annual conference in Blackpool to await the outcome of a vote that could overturn a ban on women taking associate membership.

The 57-year-old, who was not permitted to enter the conference room under the union's rules, recently lost her appeal for sex discrimination against the social club network.

The CIU ban means women have to be signed in as a guest when visiting other clubs and cannot stand for election to the local branch committee or national executive.

Updated: 09:15 Saturday, April 03, 2004