A Deal angling club has strongly dismissed claims that it is sexist in the way competition prize money is given out.

The claims have come from David Bassett, of Queensdown Road, Kingsdown, and his daughter Shelley, 21, who has won the British Open Ladies Sea Fishing Championship twice at Deal Angling Club 1919, but was only offered £25 for the female category.

Mr Bassett, 49, claims that male and female categories should be offered the same amount, and that it is unfair to see men going home with £1,000.

But the angling club, based at The Marina, says there is no sexism in its prize money policy.

President Pat Heath said the £1,000 was an overall amount for best catch and not just for the male category.

He said: “There were four ladies entered out of 300 anglers, so it’s hard to give that amount of money out for both. It’s not just for men. It’s overall for the one that catches the most.

“They were the only ones that complained. Everyone else was very happy with it.”

Shelley Bassett, a hairdresser for Riccomini Hair and Beauty in Walmer, won the British Open Ladies Sea Fishing Championship in 2011 and 2012.

She argues that the conditions are the same for men and women and they fish for the same time so prizes should be equal.

“There’s not many ladies who take part but I don’t find it very encouraging for women.” - Shelley Bassett.

She said: “When I spoke to the owners they said the women could win the overall £1,000 but they had this ladies category.

“But then that’s unfair on the men if women get two chances to win. It should be equal on both sides.”

Miss Bassett said she then asked if it was fair that women participants had the chance of winning the £25 as well as the £1,000. She said: “There’s not many ladies who take part but I don’t find it very encouraging for women.”

As a result, she has not entered the competition this year but says she will take part next year now that policies have changed.

This year the British Open Sea Fishing Championship will still be held at the club but now has new organisers and new rules.

For the first time it has been decided that participants will win £500 for each category regardless of their gender.

On hearing the news, Mr Bassett said: “It sounds fairer, which is all that I was concerned with.”