It might be anathema to the fashion police but as far as Ian Paisley is concerned, those who don stetsons and cowboy boots to line dance are guilty of more than bad taste - they are on the road to damnation.

Thousands who indulge in clubs and community halls across Ireland were informed by the fiery preacher that they have been tapping their toes to Beelzebub's beat.

"The dancing of the world, hugging the other sex, set to music, is sensual, and clearly caters to the lust of the flesh, " said the Democratic Unionist leader, who is also head of the Free Presbyterian church. "Line dancing is as sinful as any other type of sexual gestures and touchings. It is sensual, not a crucifying of lust but an excitement to lust."

While many Christians have avoided falling into the clutches of more obvious temptations such as the salsa or tango, it appears they have been lured from the straight and narrow by the likes of Shania Twain at, of all places, wedding receptions.

A Belfast Free Presbyterian minister, the Rev David McIlveen, said: "It very often does happen, as mentioned in the Bible, that dancing has a sexual outcome. When Moses came down from the mountain to find the Israelites dancing there was undoubtedly sexual activity going on.

"Whenever people are having weddings in our churches, the emphasis is on spiritual things and we would advise them not to have dancing at their receptions."

He insisted that Mr Paisley was offering advice rather than an edict, but admitted he would have a robust chat with any member of his congregation spotted dancing.

Tony Devenney, chairman of the Western Dance Association of Ireland and a line dancing teacher for seven years, said he was disgusted at Mr Paisley's views.

"A lot of people have been seriously offended," he said. "We have 70 instructors teaching thousands of people every year, many of them committed Christians, who've made a lot of friends across the religious divide, and get a great deal of innocent pleasure from line dancing.

"What sort of social life do these Free Presbyterians have if they're not allowed to dance?"

Beth Megarry, who has attended line dancing classes in County Down for five years, was mystified by Mr Paisley. "There's no touching in my class. Maybe he's getting it confused with lap dancing."