Property selling site Purplebricks has apologised to a gay couple after the Christian owners didn’t allow them to view a house. 

The home was for sale via the website, but when the couple booked a viewing they were refused by the homeowners. 

Luke Main, 33, a builder, and his wife Dr Joanna Brunker, 34, a Cambridge University medical physicist rejected the enquiry into the three-bed semi-detached cottage. 

The Christian couple then contacted Lachlan Mantell and his partner Luke Whitehouse via message, asking them to “tell them more” about their “current position and circumstances”.

After clarifying their ages and careers, Mr Mantell and Mr Whitehouse received a second message, saying: “We’re sorry if we seem intrusive, but we just want to make clear that we would be unwilling for two men in a partnership to view or buy our house.”

The final message from the Christian couple read: "As it is contrary to the gracious teaching in God’s Word, the Holy Bible, e.g Romans 1:24-28 and Jude 7 (King James Version). With regards.”

Mr Mantell told the MailOnline that he had first believed the exchange to be a joke, before being reduced to tears by the situation. 

The estate agent has now removed the £650,000 Surrey home from the site. 

A Purplebricks spokesperson said: “Purplebricks celebrates diversity and the message that Lachlan and Luke received is completely opposed to our views and values. We immediately contacted the seller to return their fee and request that they sell their property with a different agent.”