A FORMER Royal Marine from Chorley has set up an online dating agency for British men to meet women from Russia and Ukraine.

Steve Fowler said the service was needed because agencies in the UK were dominated by men.

And he has defended the site, which he claimed offered British men the chance to meet “slimmer” Ukrainian women.

But women’s groups were not impressed, with one branding the agency “worrying”.

The site, www.romantic adventures.co.uk, contains profiles of more than 3,000 women.

It claims the odds are against men in the UK, saying: “Imagine a place where the situation is reversed, where your choice of friendly, attractive women is almost limitless.”

His business arranges dates for men when they arrive in Ukraine or Russia.

The website says it “allows you to meet many ladies, for the purpose of developing that stronger relationship which could lead to marriage.”

Mr Fowler, who was born in Chorley and went to college in Blackburn, said: “Every man I speak to is impressed.

"The controversial side of it is if someone’s already married.

"We discourage that.

“In my opinion, Ukrainian women are in the same position as British guys.

"And most of the Ukrainian population is quite slim. It sounds sleazy and stereotypical but it’s true.”

The 41-year-old, who served in the Marines for six years until 1994, also runs a corresponding website where profiles of British men are posted in Russian.

But Alex Bennett, who chairs Blackburn Ladies’ Circle, said: “It’s worrying because people may not know what they’re getting into.

"My main concern is for the women. You have to be cautious.”