Police in Australia are hunting for a man believed to have pepper-sprayed a bus driver in Sydney.

Witnesses said the man, who was told he could not board the bus as it was full, appeared to speak with an English accent.

He is accused of verbally abusing the driver, before CCTV within the vehicle shows him lean over the dashboard and repeatedly spray a substance in the driver's face.

After the driver attempts to grab the canister, the man jumps off the bus and jogs away.

The attack on Thursday evening occurred in the Surry Hills area of the Australian capital.

Paramedics were called when the 41-year-old driver began having trouble breathing. He was treated at the scene and allowed to go home.

New South Wales Police released the footage to help identify the suspect.