In a chapter aimed at explaining the masculine pleasures of adopting feminine garb, the book's authors opine: "Transvestites feel sexual pleasure when they dress as members of the opposite sex." To illustrate the point, a picture of a kilted Scotsman is reproduced.

The Polish consulate in Edinburgh has received dozens of complaints; the foreign office is to be informed and, a spokeswoman for the consulate said, the Polish embassy in London is planning an immediate investigation.

Margaret Dalziel, spokeswoman for the consulate, said complaints were arriving by fax and post.

"They claim the article is insulting to the manhood of the Scottish highlanders and are angry that Polish people, who they thought were friends, are saying they are transvestites. People are touchy about things like this and it could start a war of words between the two nations," said Ms Dalziel.

"They're talking crap," said Tommy Madden, chairman of the west of Scotland tartan army. "The kilt helps us get women when we go abroad. It's a macho thing worn with attitude not swagger - definitely not for transvestites."

Poles in Scotland are also less than impressed by the manual.

Robert Ostrycharz, cultural adviser of the Scottish-Polish education and cultural society, said: "I can understand why people are upset by the reference to the kilt."