A COMPLAINT made by a Bury woman could see one of the country's top comedians prosecuted under a new religious hate law.

Ms Helen Kirrane (23) complained to police after comedian Mike Reid told what she claimed were a string of offensive, racist gags about Muslims.

Mr Reid, best known for his part playing Frank Butcher in Eastenders, was doing a stand-up routine at a theatre in Chatham, Kent.

Politics graduate Ms Kirrane, who was visiting friends, took exception to comments he made about Muslims working as strippers and being told to bungee jump without ropes.

She reported the matter to police, so that Mr Reid could be prosecuted under an incitement to religious hatred law introduced last year.

Agents for Mike Reid have labelled the complaint "ridiculous" and "petty". They deny that the jokes are racist or likely to cause hatred.

A spokeswoman for Kent Police said: "We have received a complaint which we are obviously following up.

"It is too early to say whether a prosecution will be brought while we are still investigating the case."