Holiday park operator Pontins has apologised after being issued a legal notice for “shocking” discrimination towards Irish Travellers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found Pontins had created a list of common Irish surnames labelled as “undesirable guests”.

It said staff were told to decline or cancel bookings made under those names or by people with Irish accents.

Pontins said the call centre where the incidents took place had now closed.

Some of the names that appeared on the list included in its report – were Boyle, Keefe, Gallagher, O’Donnell, McGuiness, Murphy, and O’Reilly.

As well as this list, there was a “banned list” containing the names of people thought to be Irish Travellers, as well as their associates.