A DARWEN woman needed surgery on a facial fracture resulting from a row over the ownership of a pair of trousers, a court was told

Marie Woods cut the pants in half and shared them between two women.

One of them later attacked her and another woman got involved in the street row, Preston Crown Court heard.

Susan Wells, 35, of Hindle Street, Darwen, was ordered to carry out 180 hours' community punishment. A girl aged 16 was ordered to do 80 hours' unpaid work and also placed on a 12-months rehabilitation order.

Both had pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding. The incident occurred in Grafton Terrace, Darwen, in May last year.

John Woodward, prosecuting, said it appeared there had been a fall-out over who owned a pair of black trousers.

In the end, Marie Woods cut them in half with some scissors and threw half of them to the juvenile defendant.

A fracas then arose outside a house with the girl allegedly kicking her in the face, he said.

It was suggested that Wells got involved by grabbing hold of Mrs Woods while the other youth kicked out.

The injured woman went to Blackburn Royal Infirmary and an operation was carried out on a facial fracture.

Mr Tim Horgan, defending Wells, said the incident had been most unfortunate.

Judge Barbara Watson said "It is difficult to understand why a dispute about a pair of trousers should have ended in such a serious way."