A PUNK singer believes US customs deported him as he tried to enter the country to play a gig because he impersonated Donald Trump.

Peter Bywaters, frontman for Brighton-based band Peter and the Test Tube Babies, flew to San Francisco last weekend but said he was detained on arrival then sent back to the UK.

Mr Bywaters, from Lancing, claims he was interrogated for six hours by border control staff who produced photographs of him dressed as Donald Trump during a tour in Germany last year.

The 56-year-old said: “I got to the airport and they must have Google searched my name at the desk.

“Up came my band’s site with pictures of me dressed as Trump and then they immediately started asking me questions.

“They played a video with me dressed as Donald Trump smoking a fake joint.

“The interrogation lasted for about six hours, which began after they found out I was there to play a gig.

“I had been told that Donald Trump issued an order calling for tighter immigration controls so you never know, critics could easily be targeted.

“I was pretty annoyed at the time. Even the aeroplane staff were not happy with me on my way back.”

He said that he had his phone and passport confiscated, had a DNA swab taken and was photographed by border officials before being sent back to London on a plane.

The cabin crew allegedly refused to serve him alcohol on the 11-hour flight home and he only got his phone and passport back when he landed.

The band was flying to San Francisco to play at the Punk Invasion Festival in Santa Ana, Orange County, California.

Due to his deportation, guest singers had to fill in for the absent bandmate.

He carried out the impersonation while on the band’s Presidential Tour last year, where he also voiced his criticisms of Mr Trump.

US Customs and Border Protection officials said he did not have the correct visa and was deported for this reason alone.

The band, which formed in 1978, will release their new album in September.