ONE police officer was bitten on the knee and another had blood spat in his face during a late night disturbance in Blackburn town centre.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officers were arresting Duncan John Campbell who they had seen shouting abuse and gesticulating at a group of men.

Campbell, 28, of De Lacey House, Preston New Road, Blackburn, was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 18 months and ordered to pay £75 compensation to each of the officers after pleading guilty to two charges of police assault.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said the officers formed the opinion that Campbell was trying to provoke an incident of violence. He refused to calm down and lunged towards an officer. As he was being arrested he kicked out.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Campbell accepted that he had too much to drink and had been assaulted by a doorman at a town centre club, which accounted for his split lip.