Carriage driver hurls abuse in Melbourne

A horse and carriage driver involved in an ugly exchange with a pedestrian that went viral didn't have a permit to be working in Melbourne's CBD.

The driver hurled racist abuse and death threats at the pedestrian after he suggested that he should stop swearing at a woman who was protesting against horse drawn carriages nearby.

"You might want to watch your tongue mate," the pedestrian said as he walked by on Valentine's Day on the busy CBD street.

The driver then blew his top, telling the man that he would "break his ---ing jaw" and racially abusing him.

The angry outburst was caught on camera with the footage released by Animal Liberation Victoria.

Melbourne City Council, which issues permits for carriage operators, said the man featured in the footage did not hold a horse-drawn vehicle street trading permit.

It said he had been repeatedly moved on by council officers.

Tensions are high between carriage operators and protesters with frequent arguments documented by the Melbourne Against Horse-Drawn Carriages Facebook page.

The council urged anyone using the carriages to check that the driver holds the relevant permits to operate.