About 230 Welsh Labour Party members are backing a High Court challenge to the policy of twinning male and female candidates.

Under twinning, each man standing as an Assembly candidate would have to be balanced by a woman in a paired constituency.

Its opponents insist such a strategy is illegal and believe they can get an injunction at the High Court before Christmas.

Campaign secretary Keith Griffiths told BBC News Online: "Our advice throughout has been that this is totally illegal - it certainly doesn't comply with European statutes.

"We will be putting money up front this week to seek counsels advice with a view to seeking an injunction and from then we have to wait and see."

The newly-formed Campaign for Members' Rights has raised an initial war chest of £1,500, but predicts an overall legal bill of up to £20,000.

Mr Griffiths, deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council and a rejected Assembly candidate, insists fees will not be a problem.

"We've had promises from some very big names within the party who will obviously have to remain anonymous at this time and we will be setting up a fund-raising body for appeals.

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"Having gone around the constituencies, we know the support that is out there."

A spokeswoman for Labour in Wales said the party had taken advice on twinning as been told it was legal. "We're perfectly happy with our legal advice," she added.

The latest challenge comes amid on-going fallout from the resignation of former Welsh secretary Ron Davies and the battle for his succession as Labour candidate for post of Wales's first secretary.

The Labour Party leadership's preferred choice, Welsh Secretary Alun Michael, at present lacks a seat for Welsh Assembly.

As Mr Griffiths points out, an end to twinning would probably make it easier for Mr Michael to find a seat.

But he said there was a growing resentment at party grassroots about changes being made without proper consultation.