Both women used the male changing rooms before joining around 20 men in the 25-metre pool. Ms Desir, a mother of two from Luton, said: ‘We are doing it to highlight the ridiculous and dangerous move towards self-identification.

‘We are clearly not men but by saying we are, we were allowed to join in men-only activities.’

Many of the male swimmers tried to ignore the women but one elderly man asked Ms Desir if she realised it was a men-only night.