POLICE last night confirmed they were investigating a complaint from an off-duty constable over a motoring incident involving England cricket legend Ian Botham.

Durham Police said they had received a complaint about a blue BMW being driven erratically on the A1(M).

And Mr Botham's agent confirmed the former England star and Sky TV pundit was a passenger in the car at the time of the alleged incident.

The cricket star was reported after an alleged incident between the BMW and a motorcycle being ridden by a 33-year-old off-duty policeman from Surrey Police on Sunday.

A police spokesman said the incident was reported to have taken place as the two vehicles headed south between junction 61 of the A1(M), at Bowburn, County Durham, and junction 59, near Newton Aycliffe.

The 33-year-old off-duty policeman, who does not wish to be named, told The Northern Echo he recognised Mr Botham taking photographs of him from the car.

"There was an older man driving, but Botham was trying to get a picture of us," he said. "I have no idea why."

However, Mr Botham's agent, Adam Wheatley, said that although the Sky cricket commentator was involved in an incident, he was not at fault.

He said Mr Botham was being driven by one of his regular drivers when the incident is alleged to have taken place.

Mr Wheatley said the policeman had taken out his ID and held it against the car window. He said Mr Botham had been taking photos "as evidence".

The police officer, who was carrying a pillion passenger on his motorbike, reported Sunday's incident to Durham Police.

A spokeswoman for the constabulary said yesterday that they had received a complaint about a blue BMW being driven erratically between junction 61 and 59 of the A1(M).

She said: "As a result, we have forwarded information on to North Yorkshire Police for them to speak to a registered keeper of the car on our behalf."

Mr Botham, 49, nicknamed Beefy, is England's all-time leading wicket-taker and the country's best all-rounder. In 102 tests, he made 5,200 runs and took 383 wickets.

On Sunday, two of his old teams, Durham and Worcester, played at the Riverside ground, Chester-le-Street. He was at the ground last night to commentate on the match between Durham and Somerset.

Mr Botham has a home at Ravensworth, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, which was burgled last month. Thieves made off with £70,000-worth of jewellery.

Thieves struck while Mr Botham and his wife, Kathy, had guests staying. No details have been released of the stolen items.