A 56-year-old man was seen staggering across a busy Blackburn town centre road less than two hours after police had picked him up off the floor and told him to go home.

Blackburn magistrates heard that this time, when approached by the officers in Railway Road, John Saunders became abusive and was arrested after falling down.

Saunders, of Swallow Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and was fined £50 with £50 costs.

Julian Peers, defending, said Saunders was prescribed anti depressants as a result of the breakdown of his marriage.

On Wednesday he had been feeling particularly low and had gone drinking.