A Clitheroe man suffered a multiple fracture of his cheek bone after being punched outside a town centre pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Barry Watson was momentarily unconscious after being struck from behind by Wayne Duncan Jeffries.

The court heard that Jeffries, 20, of Holden Street, Clitheroe, admitted grievous bodily harm but no to the full extent which was alleged by the prosecution.

And the magistrates said the extent of the assault would be decided at the Crown Court after they committed Jeffries there for sentence.

Philip Potter, prose-cuting, said Mr Watson had been out with his flat mate and they ended up in the Bridge Inn were they were meeting a female friend.

He spoke to Jeffries, who he had known all his life, but later in the evening became aware he was staring at him in an aggressive way.

Jeffries was taken outside by a member of staff and Mr Watson also went outside. As he turned to go back in he was hit hard on the side of his face.

He didn't remember falling to the floor but came round to see Jeffries trying to kick him in the face but he was able to deflect the blow.

"As a result of the punch his left cheek bone was fractured in three places," said Mr Potter.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said his client's version of the incident was very different.

"My client says he was outside the pub trying to leave when the aggrieved stood in front of him and my client struck him a single blow," said Mr Church-Taylor.

"That caused the other man to fall to the floor, at which stage my client left."