The couple claim a fellow bus passenger, who was reportedly wearing a hijab, took offence to the snorting sounds in the music (Picture: Ross Parry/Stephen Schofield)

A Rotherham couple were asked to get off a bus and called racists for singing the Peppa Pig theme tune to their 15-month-old autistic daughter, it has been claimed.

Nick Barnfield and Sarah Cleaves claim they were travelling on a bus from Sheffield when a fellow passenger, who was reportedly wearing a hijab, took offence to the snorting sounds in the theme music, saying they were a reference to pork being forbidden by Islam.

The couple claim that when they complained to the bus driver on September 8, they were told that it would be ‘easier’ if they got off and walked the remaining two miles to their home.



Mr Branfield, 24, said, ‘A lady came up to us and quite aggressively started telling us we were irresponsible parents and that we were being racist singing the song.’


‘She went up to the bus driver and told him we were being racist towards her. The driver came up to me and said we had to get off the bus or the police would have to come.’

Mr Branfield said, ‘He just said: “Go now, otherwise you’ll hold up all the passengers and no-one will be happy.” It was humiliating.’

The bus company said they are investigating the incident, but that the driver disputes the claim that allegations of racism were involved.

Brandon Jones, head of external relations at the First bus group said: ‘The investigation is ongoing but we have viewed CCTV footage. It does show the customer leaving the bus at the location he describes and it does show a conversation between a lady customer on the bus and the driver, and the driver speaking to the customer.

‘We’re speaking with our driver and with the customer to clarify the circumstances in which they left the bus. At this point I’m not in a position to confirm that they were forced to leave.

‘It is clear they left the vehicle. The driver responded to a customer complaint on the service. There was a single complaint from a passenger, she was an Asian lady.’

‘The driver told us he heard no reference to racism but we are investigating the incident and have not yet drawn a conclusion.’

South Yorkshire Police said it was not investigating the incident.