A woman in wearing a niqab has become the first person in Denmark to be fined under new laws banning full-face Islamic veils.

A 28-year-old female was fined after getting into a fight with another woman, who had tried to tear of her veil.

Police were called to the scene and reviewed CCTV footage of the incident, which took place in a shopping centre in Horsholm, around 15 miles north of the capital Copenhagen yesterday.

Restrictions on Islamic face veils were approved by MPs in May after being brought forward by the country's centre-right coalition, known for tightening asylum and immigration rules in recent years

A student (not pictured) told reporters: 'We need to send a signal to the government that we will not bow to discrimination'

Denmark's face veil ban will affect Muslim women who argue the controversial law 'specifically targets a religious minority'

She was told she would be fined 1,000 kroner (£119.37) in the post, and was told to remove her veil or leave the public space, but decided to keep on her headwear.

Police officer David Borchersen said: 'During the fight her niqab came off, but by the time we arrived she had put it back on again.'

Denmark introduced a law on August 1 where people wearing a burqa, which covers a person's entire face, or a niqab, which only shows the eyes, while in public carries a fine of 1,000 kroner.

Repeated offenders could be fined as much as 10,000 kroner (£1,193).

Balaclavas, masks, false beards and other accessories are included in the ban.

Denmark's new face veil ban is likely to apply to the niqab and burqa - not the hijab and chador

A line of protesters link arms in Copenhagen, including non-Muslim men and women who covered their face in solidarity with women no longer allowed to wear the niqab

Danish women wore niqabs, hijabs and burqas, risking a fine of 1,000 kroner (£120) or jail time for those caught wearing the face veil in public

The law does not mention mention burkas by name, but reads 'anyone who wears a garment that hides the face in public will be punished with a fine'.

Human rights campaigners have slammed the ban as a violation of women's rights, while supporters argue it enables better integration of Muslim immigrants into Danish society.

The full-face veil is a controversial issue across Europe. Belgium, France, Germany and Austria have already imposed bans or partial bans.

Friday's fine comes after protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the law.