A gay couple claim they were subjected to a homophobic tirade and ordered off a Blackheath bus after the driver spotted them kissing.

Jack James, 23, said he got a "peck on the lips" from his boyfriend on the number 89 bus from Blackheath station - leading to a foul-mouthed rant from the driver. Transport for London (TfL) is now investigating the incident.

Mr James, from Blackheath, claims the driver shouted: "Don’t do that on my f****** bus or you can get off, I don’t want to watch that."

The event organiser was not sure if the driver was talking to them until he laid his head on his boyfriend's shoulder and the driver began yelling again.

When they reached their stop, Mr Jones approached the driver and asked him about it.

Their driver allegedly replied: "It’s my bus it is my rules and I don’t want to watch that. It’s disgusting - get off the bus."

Even after the pair got off the bus the driver opened his window and allegedly yelled: "You're not real men. F*** off."

The couple have gone public with their experience after the media storm caused in Brighton when two women were asked to leave a Sainsbury's supermarket when a customer complained their kissing was "disgusting".

Mr Jones also claimed that his numerous emails of complaint about the incident, which happened on August 7, went unanswered until he contacted the newspapers this month.

He said: "It was one kiss on the lips and that was it. Me and my boyfriend never show public affection. But we do live in London and it's widely accepted - gay marriage is acceptable.

Mr Jones added: "Now when we get on the bus we think 'is it going to be him?'

"We don't even hold hands or anything because we worry what's going to happen."

TfL’s head of bus operations Ken Davidson said: "All customers have the right to use our services without fear of being abused and offensive behaviour is completely unacceptable.  

"We would like to reassure Mr James that this matter is being taken very seriously and that a thorough investigation is being conducted by Go Ahead."