A DRUNKEN clubgoer launched a metal pedestrian barrier at a waiting taxi.

Blackburn magistrates heard Thomas Farrar caused over £700 worth of damage to the cab which was parked outside the Switch nightclub in Blackburn.

Farrar, 21, of Chestnut Avenue, Penwortham, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Munawwar Hussain was sitting in his taxi outside the nightclub waiting for a fare when he saw a young man, who was clearly drunk, leave the club.

"He said the man looked angry and upset," said Mrs Yates. "As he watched the defendant picked up the barrier and threw it at his car."

Michael Leach, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and the offence had been completely out of character.

"The police took the view it could be dealt with by a conditional caution but there were financial difficulties," he added.

Switch had been forced to temporarily close in August after police and Blackburn with Darwen Council chiefs shut down Nocturnal, which operated out of the same building.

The closure came after a knife fight outside Nocturnal, which left a number of people injured.

Switch then gained its own operating licence but bosses last month took the decision to close the venue, due to a fall in trade.