Pro-Brexit number plates have been banned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) ahead of new "75" registrations. Any letter and number combinations deemed likely to cause offence, embarrassment or thought to be in "poor taste" are blocked by the agency.

Plates which are banned include "EU75 OUT", "EU75 SHT", "EU75 WAR" and "EU75 YES". Drivers caught using them faces a fine up to £1,000 and risk failing their MOT. It was in June 1975 when Brits voted to remain a member of the European Communities (EC), a forerunner of the European Union (EU) so the new "75" registration has a significance to Brexit supporters.

News of the number plate bans sparked an outcry among some social media users. Chrissy E posted on X: "The DVLA ban pro Brexit number plates including EU75 OUT. A total joke."

Facebook-user Lee Watts asked: "How soft do the DVLA think remainers are?" To which Roland Craggs replied: "Given the last 10 years of anti-Brexit teeth gnashing and tears, very."

James Smith commented: "So remoaners are in charge of the DVLA." While fellow Facebook-user Garry Heath said: "Why should they ban it, if that’s classed as offensive then so is the European flag!"

When number plates bearing the number "68" were issued in 2018, the DVLA banned "EU68 BAD". The DVLA removed "JH11 HAD" from one car owner in 2017 because of its alluding to the Islamic term for "struggle", according to the Telegraph.

Other plates being banned this year include "AU75 WTS" and "AU75 WTZ" because of their apparent reference to the Auschwitz death camp.

"LE75 LSD" has been prohibited as well due to its suggestion of drugs while homophobic, racist and sexist combinations have also been banned to avoid causing offence. This includes "AS75 GAY".

More than 400 combinations have been banned ahead of the annual release of "75" plates from September 1.

They were revealed after a freedom of information (FOI) request was submitted by Regtransfers, which supplies personalised plates.

Mark Trimbee, Regtransfer’s Chief Executive, told The Sun: "These bans ensure that number plates on the road aren’t ones that could be translated into something inflammatory, offensive, insulting, obscene or otherwise problematic.

"There are almost always some, however, that might take a bit of deciphering, but the DVLA has to err on the side of caution."

Last year the DVLA banned 210 plates. It has said previously that it tries to identify all combinations which might cause offence and steps are taken on the "rare occasion" when potentially offensive numbers slip through the net.