Actor Steven Berkoff has been forced to leave the United States for violating visa regulations - in 1997.

The British thespian was in the US to speak at a festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

But he was sent back to the UK on Tuesday after having been stopped by US Immigration and Naturalization Service agents at Detroit Metropolitan airport.

Speaking about the incident from London on Friday, Berkoff said that the US authorities had discovered he had overstayed his visa by one day five years ago.

While they throw the baby out with the bath water, they have alienated a great ally of the United States

Steven Berkoff

He said their reaction now suggested they had become over-zealous about security following the terror attacks on 11 September.

"Unbelievable as this may seem to humans who are half-civilised, this trivial infringement was enough in the post-September 11 hysteria to give this lowly clerk with a gun holster the right to play God," said Berkoff.

"The US immigration officer had explained that since September 11 every bit of information to do with one's previous visits has been downloaded and must be taken into account.

"So while they throw the baby out with the bath water, they have alienated a great ally of the United States."

Credits

Evy Warshawski, director of the Ann Arbor festival, said he had spoken to the actor once he had returned to the UK.

"He called to apologise, to tell me how sad he was over the incident. But he's not just sad, he's mad," Mr Warshawski said.

Steven Berkoff: Overstayed his welcome in 1997

"He kept telling them 'I'm not a terrorist, I'm an actor'."

A spokesman for the immigration department confirmed that Berkoff had been sent back to Britain because of a "deficiency in his documentation".

A spokesman for Berkoff's agent in the UK would not comment on the incident.

Berkoff is an acclaimed theatre actor and director, particularly in Shakespearian productions.

Last Christmas he made a guest appearance in BBC One's hit supernatural detective drama series Jonathan Creek.

He also has high profile film credits to his name, including roles in A Clockwork Orange, Rambo and Beverley Hills Cop.

He lives in the UK but has travelled regularly to and from the US for more than 20 years for his stage and screen work.