A MELLOR company director assaulted his neighbour and two workmen because he was upset at the noise they were making.

Blackburn magistrates heard the men were removing a fireplace and had started work early on a Sunday morning.

And when Philip Ponsonby went round to complain after he had been to the pub things became heated.

The court heard Ponsonby punched his neighbour, Mark Rolston.

When the workmen went to see what was happening they were also assaulted.

Ponsonby, 43, of St Mary’s Gardens, Mellor, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Rolston causing him actual bodily harm, assaulting Arthur Garnett causing him actual bodily harm and assaulting Graham Tate causing him actual bodily harm.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with a warning that all options would be open to the sentencing bench.

Angela Rossi, defending, said that Ponsonby and Mr Rolston had been neighbours for 16 years and had never got on.

On the day in question, a Sunday, the noise had started at 8am.

Miss Rossi said Ponsonby was a director of the family wholesale furniture import business and was worried that publicity surrounding the offences could have repercussions on the business.