Asian masseuses working on French Riviera beaches face a police crack-down after becoming popular among holidaymakers but a headache for their Gallic counterparts.

The action follows claims from the French Council of Masseurs and Physiotherapists that the mainly Chinese newcomers are illegal, unhygienic and even dangerous. Teams of Chinese women first appeared on exclusive, private beaches in Cannes, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins last month, offering camphor oil massages for about €20 (£13). The local newspaper, Nice Matin, said that most beachgoers found the idea “very good”.

Michel Durand, head of the local branch of the French Council of Masseurs and Physiotherapists, demanded police intervention to stop what he described as unauthorised massages.

He said: “You can only practise massage in France if you have a state diploma and are registered with the local prefecture. That is not the case with the Asian masseuses.” He added that the maximum sentence for “illegally practising medicine” was two years in prison and a €30,000 fine.

Mr Durand said that the new masseuses had “obviously received some form of training, but not much. I have watched them and they massage in quite a violent way. I had to intervene to stop one because she was hammering the customer’s cervical bones.”

Police have begun chasing the masseuses away from the seafront after complaints from physiotherapists. Three were arrested in Cannes and detained for a day before being released.

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