A FAMILY gathering at a Blackburn home led to the arrival of police -- and one officer being attacked.

A court heard that Patricia Queen shouted and kicked at the policeman, catching him on the head with a boot.

The mother-of-four was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, when she appeared for sentence before Preston Crown Court.

She had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Police were called to the 28-year-old's home in Vale Street, Blackburn, last Christmas Day.

John Bailey, prosecuting, said a several people had been at a family gathering at the defendant's home.

A large amount of drink had been consumed.

A violent quarrel broke out but there was no suggestion that Patricia Queen was involved in that.

This spilled out onto the street and a police constable arrived on the scene.

Defence barrister Martin Hackett said Queen, who had no previous convictions, could not remember a great deal of what happened.

"Her husband started fighting with a member of his family. All had been drinking.

"She saw her husband being arrested. She took it upon herself to get involved with one of the police officers, which resulted in injury."

Judge Edward Slinger said that in the circumstances he was taking an exceptional course by imposing a suspended sentence.