A man had his passport photograph rejected - because facial recognition software mistook his eyes as being closed.

Richard Lee had an attempt at renewing his passport blocked shortly after submitting his photo to an online checker.

But the image was rejected despite it clearly showing Mr Lee's as being wide open.

The 22-year-old engineering student from New Zealand was told by an automated system the reason was: "Subject eyes are closed".

Richard Lee wanted to get his passport renewed Credit: PA

The system then reminded Mr Lee that he had a further nine attempts at submitting an image with "open" eyes.

Mr Lee said that he didn't take the response personally, adding facial recognition technology was "relatively new and unsophisticated".

"No hard feelings on my part, I've always had very small eyes," Mr Lee said.

"It was a robot, no hard feelings. I got my passport renewed in the end".

Taking to Facebook, Mr Lee asked people to wish him luck with his second attempt at submitting his photo.