A man and woman have pleaded not guilty to racially abusing a taxi driver by praising the mosque attacks that killed 50 people in New Zealand.

Sean Allen, 33, and Natalie Rudman, 34, are alleged to have threatened and intimidated the driver after a night out in Rochdale on 17 March, two days after the terror atrocity.

Allen, from Collyhurst in Manchester, is alleged to have said: “Islam is very bad. New Zealand is good for Muslims. Killing Muslims in a mosque … they are good for killing Muslims. I will fucking kill you as well.”

Rudman, of Heywood in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, allegedly agreed with Allen and took part in intimidating behaviour by staring at the driver, Manchester magistrates court heard on Tuesday.

The pair denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to a section 4 racially aggravated public order offence.

The prosecutor, Nicola Durham, said Allen and Rudman were “very intoxicated” when they got into the taxi in the early hours. Police were called to Queensway in Rochdale shortly before 12.20am following the confrontation.

Durham said the taxi driver, who was not named in court, was “very upset by the comments made and was very emotional when the police attended”.

Allen, through his solicitor, denied making any reference “to the complainant’s ethnicity” or making remarks about Muslims, claiming there was only a disagreement over a fare.

Rudman’s solicitor said she also denied taking part in any “racial element” of the incident.

The pair were released on unconditional bail and told to return to court on 28 June for a trial before magistrates.