A JUDGE has jailed two men who were caught with a loaded sawn-off shotgun in the boot of a car at a Lancashire petrol station.

Marcus Grange, 29, was also caught with a live shotgun cartridge in his pocket following an incident at a Shell garage in Preston Road, Chorley, a court heard.

But both Grange and his passenger, Luke Hatfield, 32, insisted they had no criminal intentions regarding the weapon and were simply on their way to a Blackpool caravan site, Preston Crown Court heard.

Several witnesses had already alerted police over the manner of Grange's driving, in his VW Golf, beforehand, with a bottle hurled out of the window at one point.

Later Grange also racially abused an attendant at the service station, the court heard.

Grange, of Alworth Road, and Hatfield, of Chain Road, both in Blackley, Manchester, each pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and possesion of a firearm while prohibited.

Judge Beverley Lunt said: "It hardly needs saying but there is no excusing for driving around the streets in a car with a loaded sawn-off shotgun in the boot."

But the judge accepted there was no evidence of any intention to use the gun - though as both had serious criminal convictions they knew the risk they were taking.

Grange, who also admitted to racially aggravated public disorder and failing to provide specimen of breath, was jailed for 42 months. Hatfield was jailed for three years

The court heard Grange had previous convictions for supplying drugs and possession of a shotgun and Hatfield had been given an indefinite sentence for public protection, for conspiracy to rob.

Prosecutor Paul Cummins said Grange was clearly intoxicated at the petrol station.

Dan Gaskell, for Grange, said his client had paid for the petrol and had no intention of using the shotgun.