COMEDIAN Frankie Boyle has called in the police after receiving threatening messages online.

Police Scotland confirmed they were looking at internet activity linked to the stand-up, but would not confirm if the complaint related to postings on Twitter, where Boyle, 40, who lives in Glasgow, has a significant presence.

It is reported the father of two contacted the force on believing his family may be in danger, but his agent Hannah Chambers could not be reached to confirm any details.

Last year, the comedian and writer won almost £54,000 in damages after a High Court jury concluded that a tabloid newspaper had libelled him by describing him as "racist".

The comedian said the Daily Mirror had "misunderstood" the context of his use of language, adding the accusation of racism "goes against everything I've tried to do in my work, in my life".

Boyle donated his damages to the pressure group Reprieve to aid the campaign to release Shaker Aamer, the last remaining British prisoner held at America's Guantanamo Bay detention camp.