A GARAGE that was 'open all hours' shattered the "peace and tranquillity" for residents, a court heard.

Hyndburn magistrates were told that people living close to the Altham MoT Centre were plagued by the comings and goings of cars until late at night, on Saturdays and even on Bank Holidays.

And the court heard that neighbours monitored the movements to enable the council to bring enforcement action against the garage owner Noor Hussain.

Hussain, 47, of Greaves Street, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to breaching a notice under the Town And Country Planning Act. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 costs and a warning from the chairman of the magistrates that any future offences would not be treated as leniently.

"The maximum penalty for this offence is £1,000 and you should take this as a warning," he said.

Gordon McMillan, prosecuting on behalf of Hyndburn Council, said planning permission for the garage in Livingstone Road, Altham, stipulated the permitted working hours and excluded working on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Hussain was given several informal and formal warnings before a condition notice was issued, and when the garage was once again open on last August Bank Holiday court proceedings were started, the court was told.

Mr McMillan said neighbours had complained of continual disturbance and vehicles showing no regard for public safety Barry Dearing, defending, said there had been a garage on the site since 1946 but the relevant planning permission was given in 1999.

He said the problem was not with noise coming from the garage but with the coming and going of cars.

"My client accepts that he often works until late at night because that is when his customers require his services," said Mr Dearing.

"He has put notices up asking his customers to drive carefully.