Recruitment firm Blu Global has apologised to an applicant who was told by a recruitment consultant that he could not apply for a job because he was British.

The Salisbury Journal reports that Michael Fowler had applied for a lorry-driving job but then received an email from a company employee informing him their positions "exclude British candidates".

A spokesman for Blu Global denied the claims and told the Journal their policy was “not to discriminate against any potential candidate”, adding: “We refute any allegations that we, as a business, discriminate in any way against our UK based applicants.

However, the BBC reported that Blu Global has sent its "sincerest apologies for the appalling experience" adding it has taken disciplinary action against the individual responsible and that the individual no longer works there.

“We understand that you were informed by one of our European based freelance recruiters that the vacancy 'excluded' British applicants, this is not the policy of the company and we are shocked that this statement was ever made," Blu Global stated.  "No candidate is denied a chance of employment based on their nationality, age, race, gender or sexual orientation."