West Midlands Police has launched an internal inquiry into claims that one of its male officers ordered a Muslim woman to remove her religious head-dress.

Mahfooz Bibi said she was told to remove her nikab - a face veil - by a constable who wanted to identify her.

The mother-of-five reportedly pleaded with him to be allowed to show her face to a female officer.

Mrs Bibi said heridh er experiences at the city's Belgrave Road police station had left her "humiliated".

Speaking through an interpreter, she said: "The officer said he had the power to remove it. I could not understand it as, apart from my husband and family, no one has seen my face."

Mohammed Naseem, chair of the city's Central Mosque, described the incident as "tactless" and said the Muslim community generally had good relations with West Midlands Police.

In a statement, the force said: "The matter has been fully investigated and the final report is now being considered.

"We anticipate writing to Mrs Bibi in the near future with conclusions and recommendations and we advise that a right of appeal through the Independent Police Complaints Commission does exist."