Writing Python bindings for C++ code that use OpenCV

I'm trying to write a python wrapper for some C++ code that make use of OpenCV but I'm having difficulties returning the result, which is a OpenCV C++ Mat object, to the python interpreter.

I've looked at OpenCV's source and found the file cv2.cpp which has conversions functions to perform conversions to and fro between PyObject* and OpenCV's Mat. I made use of those conversions functions but got a segmentation fault when I tried to use them.

I basically need some suggestions/sample code/online references on how to interface python and C++ code that make use of OpenCV, specifically with the ability to return OpenCV's C++ Mat to the python interpreter or perhaps suggestions on how/where to start investigating the cause of the segmentation fault.

Currently I'm using Boost Python to wrap the code.

Thanks in advance to any replies.

The relevant code:

// This is the function that is giving the segmentation fault.
PyObject* ABC::doSomething(PyObject* image)
{
    Mat m;
    pyopencv_to(image, m);  // This line gives segmentation fault.

    // Some code to create cppObj from CPP library that uses OpenCV
    cv::Mat processedImage = cppObj->align(m);

    return pyopencv_from(processedImage);
}

The conversion functions taken from OpenCV's source follows. The conversion code gives segmentation fault at the commented line with "if (!PyArray_Check(o)) ...".

static int pyopencv_to(const PyObject* o, Mat& m, const char* name = "<unknown>", bool allowND=true)
{
    if(!o || o == Py_None)
    {
        if( !m.data )
            m.allocator = &g_numpyAllocator;
        return true;
    }

    if( !PyArray_Check(o) ) // Segmentation fault inside PyArray_Check(o)
    {
        failmsg("%s is not a numpy array", name);
        return false;
    }

    int typenum = PyArray_TYPE(o);
    int type = typenum == NPY_UBYTE ? CV_8U : typenum == NPY_BYTE ? CV_8S :
               typ