The DVLA has revealed its list of censored car number plates - including VA61ANA, BL03 JOB, JE55US and AL14LAH.

This year the licensing authority has banned P15 OFF, PR15 SON, PU15 SSY, SH15 TTY, UP15 BUM and WA15 TED - but allowed PEN15 and ORG45M.

Its proprietary steering group - which meets twice a year - has also forbidden a man whose surname is Islam from getting an 15LAM plate because it was deemed "inappropriate".

The man, who did not want to give his first name, told the Guardian newspaper: "I made an inquiry to the DVLA about the possibility of obtaining '15LAM', only to be told that this was an inappropriate licence plate.

"I'm not particularly religious, but I am proud of my name. I was thinking of buying the plate as a gift for my brother.

"To be told that my name is offensive is really upsetting."

In the last financial year the DVLA raised more than £105 million for the Treasury through the sale and auction of personalised registrations.

Last week a plate with the registration number KR15HNA was sold at auction for £233,000.

The most ever forked out for a registration from DVLA was for '25 O', which alone raised over £518,000.

It was sold last November to John Collins, a classic Ferrari dealer in Ascot, Berkshire.

Potentially offensive number plates became a serious issue for the DVLA after the release of H8 GAY in 2006 was met with protest because it was deemed offensive to gay people.

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson was chased out of Argentina after driving a Porsche across the country with the number plate H982 FKL, which was seen as a reference to the Falklands War.

A DVLA spokesman said: "Registration numbers are withheld in instances where if displayed on a number plate they are likely to cause general offence or embarrassment.

"The reasons can be on the grounds of political, racial and religious sensitivities or simply that they are regarded as being in poor taste."