A SIGN was put up at the gates of world-famous East Lothian golf course Muirfield this morning stating: "Welcome to Jurassic Park".

The erection of the sign, which has now been removed, came a day after the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which are based at the Gullane course, had announced that they were to hold a second vote on whether to admit women as members.

The prank was organised by bookmakers Paddy Power in a protest at what the company called the "dinosaurs" at the club.

Members at the club held a vote on admitting women as members in May last year, falling 14 votes short of the required two-thirds majority for change, despite the proposal being backed by the club's committee.

As a result, they were removed as a potential host of the Open Championship by organisers The R&A, while their stance was widely criticised by politicians, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

READ MORE: Second Muirfield ballot decision expected next month

After its stunt this morning, Paddy Power said: “The decision last May to not admit female members was about as progressive as a Donald Trump policy, and unsurprisingly it’s driven a wedge between stuffy members and the outside world.

"While Muirfield members bury their heads in the sand this time round, we thought we’d prod the beast with our Jurassic sign.

"To be honest, we were a bit scared when one of the dinosaurs stormed out to take our sign down, but overall it was a roaring success.”

However, Paddy Power does not think its actions are likely to prompt a change to the rules at Muirfield, with the firm offering odds of 1/2 on a 'no' vote to admit women members, and a 'yes' vote priced at 6/4.

In the autumn, the Honourable Company announced plans for a second vote, and have now confirmed the decision is expected to be announced in "mid-March".

A statement from the club, to the east of Gullane, said yesterday: "Voting in favour of the resolution to admit women as members is recommended, unanimously, by the captain, captain nominate and the club committee of the Honourable Company."