A BLACKPOOL transexual has vowed "it's time to start fighting back" after being kicked out of a North West singles club.

Michelle, 53, who now lives in Chorley, was excluded from the Northern Link singles club in November under 'Rule 8' which allows bosses to terminate membership without giving a reason.

The divorced father-of-three -- who underwent gender reassignment in 2001-- claims she "informed the owner of what I was" before paying a £25 subscription fee to the club in March 2003.

She is now considering launching a judicial review against the club's decision after learning that a fellow transexual was barred at the same time.

Michelle said: "If they are throwing me out because of my gender, then I will kick up as much fuss as it takes to show them up as the bigoted group it is.

"I doubt if I will ever go back to Northern Link even if they did re-admit me, but it might help somebody else in the future if I stand up to them now.

"I enjoyed the club, it gave me a social life.

"As far as I'm aware I have not broken any of their rules."

Michelle -- a self-employed accountant who regularly sees a male friend she met through Northern Link -- says she rang to ask why she had been expelled.

She claims no one would talk to her.

Club owner, Karen Seddon, 47, who lives in Poulton, has refused to give a reason for barring Michelle, but claims she has terminated memberships "for all sorts of reasons" in the past year and says it has nothing to do with Michelle's sexual orientation.

She said: "I'm not prepared to give a reason.

"In my rules it states I have total discretion. I want a certain type of people. It is nothing to do with her sexual orientation at all."

Michelle added: "I have been pushed around all my life and it is time to start fighting back."