A male-oriented society accused of celebrating 'Top Gear culture' has provoked a gender row at Manchester University.

Feminist students claim the Masculinity Exploration Networking and Support (MENS) group – promotes 'beard-growing contests', 'beer marathons' and macho culture.

But the founder of the group claims it has been misrepresented and instead exists to challenge blokeish stereotypes.

Student Ben Wild says he decided to set up MENS – the country's first student society dedicated to men – after discovering a lack of information on campus about male health issues.

He said: "We do have female members. Our events are open to everyone. It is in everyone's interests that we challenge the notion that the only way men can prove themselves is by getting drunk and getting girls into bed."

But the fledgling group has met huge opposition from those who accuse it of sexism.

It was only narrowly approved as a recognised society by the student union in a close-run vote.

Campus posters advertising the society being torn down and defaced.

Mr Wild, a 22-year-old politics and history student, said his group aimed to 'de-construct male identity'.

He confesses his critics may have got the wrong end of the stick because early suggested activities included a trip to the studio of BBC's Top Gear.

Mr Wild said: "It is the exact opposite of what we're about. We are not a political group, we are not saying men are under-represented. But certain things like male depression and male-on-male violence were not being looked at.

"One suggestion was that we went on a day trip to be in the audience for Top Gear. The show is seen as politically-incorrect and people who wanted to criticise us seized on this."

The 'men's liberation' group now has 320 members – 90 of whom are women and lists its activities as fund-raising, health-promotion, and providing emotional counselling.

But fellow politics student Caitriona Rylance accused the group of using health issues as a smokescreen.

Writing in the Student Direct newspaper, she said: "Ostensibly devoted to ‘self-betterment’, the original aims of the Men’s Society were as follows: Top Gear shows, gadget fairs, beer drinking marathons and Iron Man competitions.

"The proposed Men’s Society met with substantial opposition – from men and women alike – and began to talk more about men’s welfare."