This bizarre footage shows how a controversial bar allows tourists to pay money to climb into a ring and referee 'midget' boxing.

The Ringside Bar on the Burges Strip in Manila, Philippines, employs around a dozen dwarves who box against each other from 8pm until 4am every night.

Western tourists are encouraged to give tips or buy drinks for the dwarf competitors and in return they get to join in with the bouts.

Campaigners have slammed the venue and the practice which has proven to be extremely popular with tourists and expats.

Maria Glorian Tomen, from the Little People Association of the Philippines, said the bar was offensive just for referring to the workers as midgets.

She said: 'Aside from fighting for our rights and welfare and the equal opportunity, part of it is to abolish the use of the ''M'' Word.

A bar in Manila, Philippines has been slammed by campaigners after staging nightly 'midget' boxing matches between a dozen dwarves

'The word ''Midget'' is considered as a highly offensive word to people born with dwarfism.'

Workers at the bar receive around 250 Philippine Piso (£3.50) a night for the work though it can vary according to how much they receive in tips.

The Rocky theme tune is played during the fights and the bar also stages what they call 'midget dancing' and 'lady boxing'.

Perry Berry, senior president of the Little People Association of the Philippines, said that although he was against the bar, he admitted it provides dwarves with employment opportunities which would otherwise be hard to find.

The bar also encourages tourists to give tips or buy drinks for the dwarves which allows them to enter the ring and referee a bout

He said: 'As an organization, we do not approve of such establishments. These places employ people like us to do comedy for them, but during the skit, our people get hurt physically.

'However, there is not enough opportunities available here in the country. Life is already hard for ordinary people, and for people like us it is harder. So as much as we want to stop our members from working and supporting these businesses, we cannot do anything about it because it gives them jobs.'

The Ringside Bar was contacted for a comment but did not reply.