A FAMILY celebration at a Blackburn pub turned into a family war as fighting erupted between relatives, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that police were called as the disturbance at the Three Pigeons in Oakenhurst Road spilled on to the street.

And Michael Blacklidge, defending, said it had been an uncle punching his nephew on the nose which had "really put the cat among the pigeons."

William James Smith, 21, of Essex Close, Blackburn pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour inside the pub and was fined £50 with £40 costs.

Andrea Hughes, 22, of the same address, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and was fined £50 with £40 costs. Martin Paul Ingham, 21, of Carlinghurst Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and damaging a police vehicle. He was remanded on bail until June 20 so that details of compensation could be put before the court.

Wendy Shackleton, prosecuting, said that when police went into the pub they saw a man on the floor and Smith was punching and kicking him. He was arrested after a struggle and later told police that he had argued with his girlfriend, Hughes. His uncle had punched him and he had retaliated.

Miss Shackleton said Hughes was arrested outside the pub after screaming obscenities at the police and members of the public still inside the pub.

Mr Blacklidge said Smith and Hughes had been standing at the bar at his cousin's 21st birthday celebration. Words were exchanged but they could not be described as an argument.

"However, his uncle James took exception and punched my client full square on the nose," said Mr Blacklidge.

Mr Blacklidge said Smith had been due to start work for his uncle as a concreter on Tuesday and added: "His uncle has made no complaint but he has decided he would rather not have my client working for him."