French authorities have detained a British trawler amid an ongoing dispute over fishing rights.

Two boats were fined on Wednesday after one failed to comply with checks by police and the other was found not to hold a proper licence, according to the French maritime ministry.

A statement posted by the French maritime minister, Annick Girardin, said checks had been carried out by authorities on boats in the Baie de Seine near Le Havre in northern France.

One trawler was fined for obstructing checks after it initially refused a request to be boarded by police, the statement said. It was later found not to have been in breach of regulations.

The ministry said the second boat was not on a list of UK vessels with licences granted by the European Commission and France.

The boat was then ordered to divert to Le Havre.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been contacted for comment.