A human rights group based in the United States has accused prison officers in China of severely beating a woman arrested for trying to set up churches without the permission of the authorities.

The group, Human Rights in China, said it had received information that the woman, Cheng Meiyang, had suffered serious head injuries.

There has been no word from the Chinese government.

Correspondents say the Chinese authorities have consistently been accused of harassing people who try to set up religious groups outside the control of the state.