Broadcaster and actor Stephen Fry has compared Russia's treatment of gay people to Hitler's persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany.

Mr Fry made the claim in a letter calling on the International Olympic Committee to strip the Russian city of Sochi of next year's Winter Olympics.

Members of Mr Fry's family were killed in Hungary during the Holocaust.

He said President Vladimir Putin's discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender Russians was "barbaric".

In the open letter - sent to the IOC and David Cameron - the QI host and Blackadder actor wrote that Mr Putin "is making scapegoats of gay people, just as Hitler did Jews. He cannot be allowed to get away with it.

"An absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential.
“Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lillehammer, anywhere you like. At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world."

New Russian laws ban teaching under-18s about homosexuality.

Gay activists have been boycotting Russian products in response.

The IOC has said it will work to ensure the Games take place "without discimination".

A British government spokeswoman said there were "great concerns" about the new restrictions. Mr Cameron discussed the issue with Mr Putin during a meeting in June.