THIS week's sudden storms and torrential rain meant a number of East Lancashire folk are likely to have been splashed by passing vehicles in scenes just like the Ford Focus TV ads.

Roadside drains are easily blocked by leaves and rubbish and it takes just a few minutes for deep puddles to appear in a real downpour.

It's understandable that any passer-by on the pavement who gets drenched will be furious, especially if they think that with a little more thought a driver could have avoided spraying them.

But whoever heard of a complaint being made to police, or even more surprisingly, a driver being taken to court and prosecuted for driving "without reasonable consideration?"

Police say the decision to prosecute in the case of Tahir Mahmood had nothing to do with the fact that his "victim" was a police officer.

Most people will take a different view.

And at a time when the public are clamouring for police to be seen out on the streets pursuing robbers, sex attackers and thugs it seems astonishing that police time and public money has been spent on pursuing this 33-year-old driving instructor.

What a contrast to the innovative moves earlier in the week by fellow officers who set their sights on ridding Blackburn's Highercroft estate of anti-social yobs.