A lesbian couple on the Isle of Man are calling for a change in the law after being turned down for a flat on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Kira Izzard and Laura Cull, from Douglas, said they were shocked to discover there was no legislation to protect them from discrimination.

They have now launched an online petition calling for the island to adopt the UK's Equality Act 2010. So far more than 1,000 people have offered their support.

The couple, who are due to enter a civil partnership later this year, had hoped to rent a house next to relatives. However, at the last minute they learned that the landlord had rejected their tenancy.

When they complained to Citizen's Advice Bureau they were told the landlord was acting within the law and they could do nothing about it.

Cull said: "I was so shocked to hear this and felt sick. I didn't know where to go or what to do as I didn't have a legal leg to stand on."

She and her partner decided the only thing they could do was to share their story "with as many people as possible and try and raise awareness that, on this beautiful island that we call home, we can still be treated this way".

In an interview with Pink News, Cull said: "I was really upset as we had our hearts set on that particular house. It is right next door to my sister and we could have watched my three-year-old nephew grow up.

"It then settled in that the reason we couldn't rent the house was because we are a same-sex couple and my sadness turned to a complete numbness as it never occurred to me that this would even be a factor in this day and age and it felt like a personal attack."

The island's chief minister, Allan Bell, said: "I am extremely disappointed that this type of ugly, outdated prejudice survives after all the work that has been done over the past 20 years or so to make the island a more tolerant place.

"I do believe that our society today is generally much more tolerant than it used to be. But this incident shows that there are still isolated pockets of bigotry that can only be tackled through legislation.

"An equality bill, based on the UK Equality Act 2010, is already in the drafting process and will deal with discrimination of this kind. I have asked that preparation of this legislation be accelerated."

A spokesperson for Harmony Homes, the estate agents who had tried to negotiate the couple's tenancy, said the company was disappointed they were turned down.

Rob McDowall, who chairs the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender network (LGBT), has written to the island's politicians to raise his concerns.

Many have expressed their own sense of shock that Manx law still allows such discrimination.

Phil Gawne, a member of the House of Keys (the directly elected lower branch of the Manx parliament), said: "I am shocked to note that our legislation allows such things to happen here and will do what I can to work with colleagues to ensure that such discrimination cannot take place in the future."

Another MHK, Brenda Cannell, said: "I am shocked, to say the least, that such things are apparently allowed in such situations.

"I feel sure that government will now turn its attention to addressing this outrageous situation and will, with all due speed, consider the required legislation to prevent this type of situation from happening again."

Homosexuality on the island was illegal until 1992. The age of consent was initially set at 21 but has since been lowered to 16.

Gay couples were given legal backing for civil partnerships in April 2011. The change in the law also gave them the right to adopt.