Kenny Fu-Kennard, previously known as Kenny Kennard, was refused a passport by the Home Office on three occasions this year, the Daily Mirror reports.

Mr Fu-Kennard said he had decided to change his name “to something with a bit of ‘fun’ about it” a number of years ago and already had a driving licence in that name.

Home Office rules prevent the issuing of passports with names that “may be considered as distasteful or vulgar”.

“‘Fu-Kennard’ is not offensive, and I object to them denying my chosen name,” Mr Fu-Kennard said.

He added: “I don’t know what else I can do to escalate the situation with HM Passport Office, because no one has advised me how else I can challenge the verdict.

“I only have one red line, though – I’m keeping my surname. I don’t want to change it again, especially because they’re restricting my freedom. I like Fu-Kennard.”

Nearly 300 people have signed an online petition calling on the Home Office to grant the passport.