AS police dragged Neil Holden away from a town centre fight, Simon Blackledge stepped in and continued the battle, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that both men and their opponent had to be arrested before order could be restored.

Holden, 32, and Blackledge, 21, both from Tintern Crescent, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. They were each fined £100 with £50 costs.

The third man had pleaded not guilty on a previous occasion and his case was adjourned for trial.

Margaret Duckworth, prosecuting, said police were called to Duke Street, Blackburn, where they saw two men exchanging punches. One was Holden and he seemed to be getting the better of the other man.

Mrs Duckworth said an officer pulled Holden away and handcuffed him, but Blackledge immediately jumped in and continued the fight.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said his clients had been in town drinking with others and Holden had left and gone home.

Later in the evening, he received a phone call from his nephew to say he had been assaulted.

"His nephew claimed he had been battered for no reason by a group of males and it was one of these who my clients ended up fighting with," said Mr Ditta.