A WET T-shirt competition organised by a Bradford city centre bar has attracted criticism and created an online row.

The competition, which is being held at Bentley's Live Lounge in Godwin Street on Sunday, May 1, has been branded "sleazy" and demeaning to women.

But Co-owner of Bentley's, Jason Avgousti, defended his club's decision to stage the competition.

He said: "Both males and females can enter the contest, and we asked people in the bar what they would like to do, and quite a lot of people said, 'why don't we have a wet t-shirt competition?

UPDATE: Bentley's Live Lounge owner makes announcement about wet T-shirt competition

"In hindsight there has been a bit of controversy, but Bentley's is a live events bar, and we will also be holding a ladies' night event soon.

"It is not aimed at being derogatory, it's aimed at adults who want to let their hair down.

"You can go anywhere in Bradford and see similar things happening on hen parties and catwalks, all we're trying to do is host a little bit of fun."

The event, which is being advertised on Facebook, garnered criticism.

One Facebook commenter, Joe Hancock, said: "This is 2016, in case you hadn't noticed. 'Just a bit of fun' went out with the previous century, and was wrong even then.

"If you genuinely think an event like this does no harm, then you really haven't considered any of the history of the objectification and oppression of women throughout the ages and still, sadly, today.

"I'm not accusing you of any bad intent, but urge you to reconsider hosting this event as it paints you in a very particular light to a wider public.

"It's not just women that will be offended - I am offended and I am a man, and there are many others."

After the event was described as “just a bit of fun” by the organisers, one commenter, Emma Allen, said: “If sleazy is your idea of fun then fair enough!”

Nic Jones posted on the event page, saying: "I can appreciate how some people might see this as harmless but it's pernicious and uncool.

"It was okay in the 80s but then again so was flashed hair; some things don't need resurrecting."

Another Facebook user, Andy Abbott, said: "This event is a terrible idea and would only contribute to the misconception of Bradford as a parochial backwards place.

"If you're trying to establish yourselves as a reputable live music venue then concentrate on putting on exciting and relevant acts rather than outmoded and dangerously regressive events like this."

One reader, who contacted the Telegraph & Argus about the event, said: “Nice to see the venue is taking the town back to the 1970s!”

But another user who posted on the event defended the event.

Aneto Mocko commented saying: "There is nothing in the post that says men cannot enter so where is the sexism?

"And none of the girls are forced to enter, we are living in a free world."