A MAN came out of his house with a knife in either hand during a Christmas Day family row.

Blackburn magistrates heard when police arrived on the scene Ibrahim Raju had blood on his face and was in an agitated state.

Raju, 35, of St James Street, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days' rehabilitation and 40 hours' unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £95 victim surcharge.

Katie Lord, prosecuting, said police were called at 3.45pm on Christmas Day. Officers tried to engage with Raju but he was obviously under the influence of drink or drugs and was behaving very erratically.

The officers were shown two sets of CCTV footage which showed Raju emerging from the house with a knife in either hand.

Another camera showed him lunge towards a black car and he was walking around the street for about two minutes.

Jeremy Frain, defending, said it appeared to have been some kind of family dispute and while a knife was involved it wasn't used.

"The yellow handled kitchen knife, which could be seen on the CCTV footage, was back in the kitchen drawer by the time the police arrived," said Mr Frain.

"He fully accepts that this is a serious offence."