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HEARD the one about the blonde in Austria? Well from tomorrow it will be a criminal offence if you have – and that’s no joke.

The country has outlawed gags about blondes as part of the fight against terrorism.

Officials fear that ­marginalised blondes – furious at being portrayed as stupid – could take revenge on society.

But Austrian lawyers’ chief Rupert Wolff raged: “This law is an overreaction. It is just not necessary here.” The new law also bans wisecracks about people from, Burgenland the country’s agricultural region, who are often the subject of comedy sketches.

Offenders could be sentenced to two years’ jail.

The legislation was designed to help tackle extremists promoting their views. But by the time it was passed it had widened.

In Hungary, blonde women recently demanded fairer treatment. Spokeswoman Zsuzsa Kovacs said: “Blondes face ­discrimination at work. People are banned from discriminating against blacks. Why not grant blondes the same protection?”

Blonde jokes

What do you call a blonde with half a brain? Gifted

How do you make a blonde’s eyes twinkle? Shine a torch in her ear

How many blondes does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Two. One to hold the light bulb and one to spin the ladder around