THREE men were involved in late night violence in Bacup town centre.

Blackburn magistrates were shown CCTV footage of two men subjecting the other to a prolonged beating.

They eventually walked away from the scene and had gone some distance when the "victim" ran up behind them and hit one over the back of the head with a skateboard.

Cameron Halstead, 38, of Daneswood Close, Whitworth, and Carl Anthony Fox, 38, of Edgemoor Close, Shawforth, both pleaded guilty to affray in Bacup on Tuesday. They were both sent on bail to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced.

The third man appeared separately and pleaded not guilty. He was sent to the Crown Court to stand trial.

Paul Sumner, prosecuting, said it was conceded the third man started the incident but he came off considerably the worse.

"It is also clear from the CCTV footage that he used a skateboard to hit one of the defendants across the back of the head," said Mr Sumner.

Jonathan Taylor, defending both men, said Fox's father had died and they had been to the funeral and wake on Tuesday.

"Halstead was in a kebab shop when he was approached and assaulted by the third defendant," said Mr Taylor.

"He left but was followed by the other man who was swinging his skateboard at him.

"They managed to take that off him. Initially they were defending themselves but accept that after that it went beyond that."

He said they left the third man on the floor and he was still shouting abuse at them.

"As far as they were concerned the matter was over but he came running up behind them and hit Mr Halstead as hard as he could across the back of his head with the skateboard," said Mr Taylor.