A Bradford MP is seeking legal advice after allegations that he made lewd remarks to a female colleague while drunk.

Marsha Singh, Labour MP for Bradford West, was today expected to speak to his lawyers about the claims in The Mail on Sunday that he made an indecent proposal to Labour Reading MP Jane Griffiths in the early hours of Friday.

The incident is alleged to have happened in the House of Commons smoking room during a break in the 30-hour debate on the anti-terrorist laws.

Mr Singh said he was taking legal advice about the report which claimed he also raised his fist and needed restraining and was later locked in another room.

The paper claims he was brandishing £20 notes and he threatened to take on a Labour Whip who was called to calm down the situation. It also alleges that at one point he offered to pay for sex.

Mr Singh said: "I can say there was a minor altercation on Friday morning and I apologise.

"But the major allegations I reject totally and I am speaking to my legal advisers."

At the time, the room was packed with MPs from all sides of the house having a break from the debate.

Among them was Labour MP John Cryer, Keighley MP Ann Cryer's son, who represents Hornchurch.

Mr Cryer, who said he was taking part in an arm-wrestling contest, said he saw Mr Singh in the room and spoke to him.

"I didn't see an altercation," he said. "All the allegations being reported I didn't hear and I was in the smoking room."

The incident is said to have happened between 3am and 5am when Mrs Griffiths and Helen Clark, Labour MP for Peterborough, arrived in the room. They were trying to calm the situation when the alleged remarks were made.

Ann Cryer, who also attended the debate, said today: "This is completely out of character. Whatever the situation, I hope the two women involved are big enough to forgive and forget - if anything did happen - and say it was an unfortunate event."

Mr Singh, 50, a Sikh, won his Bradford seat in the Commons in 1997 after making a career in the health service. In 2001, he and his two children, now in their early 30s, suffered a family tragedy when his wife of 30 years, Sital Kaur, died of breast cancer. She was 48.

Recently, Mr Singh was one of the rebels who defied Tony Blair over the Iraq war.