POLICE following up an incident at Accrington town hall spotted a man walking along Union Road in Oswaldtwistle carrying a bag of cans of beer.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stuart Newton matched the description of the man who had earlier abused staff at the town hall.

When he was approached he was clearly drunk and became abusive towards the officers.

Newton, 64, of Wordsworth Close, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Union Road. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £5 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Newton told the court he was on medication which it seemed hadn't mixed well with the alcohol.

"I haven't had a drink since then," he said.