A MOTHER left her four-year-old boy alone at her home while she went out drinking.

Blackburn magistrates heard the woman was even "bragging" about leaving the child.

And the alarm was raised by a childminder who saw the mother in the pub and was told the boy was on his own in the house.

The court was told that during her drunken night out the woman was involved in an altercation which resulted in her losing consciousness.

The Accrington mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons but is in her mid-20s, pleaded guilty to a child neglect offence.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said police went round to the house at 1.20am but got no response.

Attempts were made to contact family members without success.

At 2.20am a cousin arrived at the house and said she was concerned because she had been told a boy was in the house alone.

"The back door was found to be open and the boy was found asleep in bed," said Mrs Yates.

"At 2.50am the defendant came home in a drunken state and she was arrested."

The woman told police she had been drinking champagne that had been won in a raffle with a friend in the afternoon.

They carried on drinking cider before the friend left.

The woman saw on Snapchat that many of her friends were out enjoying themselves and this made her want to go out.

Gareth Price, defending, said there was nothing positive his client could advance about what happened on the night.

"Fortunately the boy didn't wake up and didn't know what had happened," said Mr Price.

"She has recognised that she is an alcoholic and needs help which she has already sought on a voluntary basis."

She was made subject to a community order for 18 months with 40 days' rehabilitation activity requirement and 12 months' alcohol treatment requirement and made subject to a curfew between 10pm and 7am for 28 days.

She was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.