Dad-of-six Ricki Reid drives the 106 route between Finsbury Park and Whitechapel and became a local favourite after children began calling his service the “bubble bus”.

His antics went viral several times and even attracted international coverage after Hackney Council highlighted his popularity.

Go Ahead London confirmed, however, that Mr Reid had been asked to stop using his bubble gun, but did not specify the safety concerns behind the decision.

A spokesman said: “Ricki has stopped blowing bubbles following some safety considerations, so he isn’t available for interview on this topic at the moment.”

The company said Mr Reid remained a valued employee and had simply been asked to prioritise getting passengers to their destinations.

Mr Reid began using a bubble gun after spotting a reduced bottle of bubble solution in a supermarket. He told The Washington Post: “A simple thing like a bubble, it makes someone smile.”