An Australian Muslim woman has been chased off a French beach by locals who threatened to call the police because she was wearing a burkini, even though a ban on the controversial swimsuit had been lifted.

Zeynab Alshelh, 23, a medical student from Sydney, told Australian television that she flew to France to show solidarity with local Muslims after more than 30 French resorts banned the burkini earlier this summer.

Ms Alshelh and her mother went to a Riviera beach wearing blue burkinis a few weeks ago but were told to leave minutes after they arrived, Australia's Channel Seven reported.

It broadcast footage of the incident showing furious locals gesturing and confronting the pair — although they were in the resort of Villeneuve-Loubet, where the ban on the full-body swimsuit had already been overturned by France’s highest administrative court.

“We were threatened by locals to leave the beach and if we didn’t they were going to call the police,” Ms Alshelh told the channel. “They weren’t happy with us being there, even though it was on the beach that the burkini ban was overturned, but the locals were not happy.”

Some beachgoers made hand gestures and disapproving noises while a man told Ms Alshelh he would call the police if she refused to leave.