Furore erupts after Fuhrer ad

Pro-euro campaigners in the UK want a cinema advert which has Rik Mayall portraying Adolf Hitler as a supporter of the single currency to be withdrawn.

The "No" campaign has dismissed the complaints calling it harmless fun.

Supporters of the Britain in Europe group have denounced it as a "tasteless caricature" and are calling for it to be pulled.

The advert briefly shows Mayall dressed as Hitler barking: "Ein volk, ein Reich, ein euro" - a reference to the Nazi slogan: "Ein volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer" (One people, one empire, one leader).

The chairman of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Labour peer Lord Janner, describes the portrayal as "crass, distasteful and totally inappropriate".

He said: "Those responsible should withdraw this offensive advert immediately."

Former European Commission vice president and Tory cabinet minister, Lord Brittan of Spennithorne, predicted the advert would "boomerang" back against the "No" campaign.

"This tasteless ad shows the underlying nastiness behind much of the No campaign as well as an element of desperation," he said.

"No" campaign director George Eustice brushed aside the objections, saying: "It is unbelievable really. It is a harmless comedy sketch for three seconds in a 90 second film. There is nothing in there that would cause offence to anyone."

Among the celebrities lining up alongside Mayall in the video are Bob Geldof, Vic Reeves, Harry Enfield, John Sessions and Gordon Ramsay, as well as Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Kate Hoey.