ARTISTS were left angry and upset when a drunken man went on the rampage causing more than £1,000 worth of damage to their paintings.

Christopher Muir targeted almost 300 pictures which had been gathered together at The Muni, Colne, for an exhibition, a court was told.

Muir damaged picture frames, glass and canvas, then told police he had been so drunk he could remember nothing about it.

Muir, 51, of Marton, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to causing damage.

He also admitted assaulting a paramedic at Blackpool by spitting on him, threatening the owner of a kennels at Marton, saying the dogs were too noisy, and theft of a credit card in London.

He was put on 12 months supervision during which he must attend an alcohol rehabilitation course and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the paramedic, plus £150 costs by Blackpool magistrates.

Pam Smith, said in October last year Mr Anthony Dodd, manager of the Colne Memorial Hall, took delivery of 280 paintings which were to form an exhibition by local arts.

The prosecutor said: "The paintings were laid out on the floor and the building was secured for the weekend."

On October 9 staff entered the hall to find damage had been done to numerous picture frames, glass and canvas.

The prosecutor added: "Police identified Muir from CCTV footage. When interviewed he said he had no memory of events as he was drunk. he added that he was ashamed of himself.

"The cost of the damage was put at over £1,000. The council claimed on its insurance."

Hugh Pond, defending, told magistrates: "All these offences were committed while he was intoxicated.

"He also has slight psychiatric problems."