Chen Guangcheng, a blind lawyer, angered authorities in 2005 by exposing forced abortions as part of China's one-child policy

Hollywood actor Christian Bale was manhandled and roughed up by Chinese security guards as he tried to visit a blind legal activist whose detention has sparked international outcry.

Bale, joined by a camera crew from CNN, was confronted by four men dressed in plain clothes as he tried to visit Chen Guangcheng who has been under house arrest in the Dongshigu village for 15 months.

The Oscar-winning actor, who plays superhero Batman, can be seen being pushed and shoved by the guards before being frogmarched away in the video released by CNN.

'Why can I not visit this free man?' Bale can be heard repeatedly asking the security officers, while they were pushing him.

In response the guards are reported to have shouted 'Go away!' while physically shoving Bale and the crew on Thursday.

According to the report, Bale was also punched by the guards who were aiming for his small camera in an attempt to stop him recording.