Actor Russell Crowe lashed out at an airline on Twitter, after they refused to let his son's hoverboards on board.

The 51-year-old took to the micro-blogging site to slam Virgin Australia after they informed him that the lithium ion batteries in the hoverboards pose a hazard during air transport and they could not be taken on board, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Crowe, who was preparing to fly from here to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales with his children Tennyson and Charles, wrote: "Ridiculous. No Segway boards as luggage? Too late to tell us at airport. Kids and I offloaded. Goodbye Virgin. Never again."

"Why did you not inform me when I booked my ticket? Where is your duty of responsibility in this?" he added.

He then left the airport without boarding the plane.

In a statement a Virgin spokesman said: "Safety is our number one priority at Virgin Australia."

"Due to safety concerns, Virgin Australia, along with all major Australian airlines and many around the world, do not permit the carriage of lithium ion battery operated small recreational vehicles, such as self-balancing boards, hoverboards or aero wheels, as checked-in or carry-on baggage."