Edward Johnson has applied for more than 80 jobs and registered with countless agencies since he was made redundant last month but without luck.

He was born with the incurable hereditary condition, neurofibromatosis, which has left him with hundreds of benign tumours on his face and body.

'One agency mentioned my skin condition and said their clients wouldn't like it,' said the food hygiene supervisor.

'People see me and are scared of catching something even though it's not infectious. I'm not tall or good-looking but people shouldn't discriminate against me.'

The 53-year-old from York added: 'In places like hotels, if you're good-looking you're put out the front, if you're ugly you're put out the back.'

Charity Changing Faces warned against making 'unwitting judgments based on appearance'.