A FUNERAL ended in violence when family members began squabbling over who inherited a watch, a court heard.

Lesley Jolley used a rounders bat to hit her sister's car windscreen and had a fight with her after relatives went to the Railway pub, Pleasington, following the funeral of their mother, Sheila Creedon.

Jolley, 34, of Shetland Close, Blackburn, admitted affray and was sentenced to a 12-month community order with £100 costs..

But her 21-year-old twin nephews Matthew and Mark Rivers, of Carluke Street, Blackburn, failed to turn up at Preston Crown Court and warrants were issued for their arrest.

Roger Green, prosecuting, told the court the incident occurred on Friday, July 8.

He said that Jolley's sister, Pamela Hunt and husband Ken, attended the funeral with their daughters, Rachel and Amy.

Mr Hunt described the situation in the pub as uncomfortable and said that Jolley had said to her sister "you have got everything of our mother's."

Mr Hunt left and went to their car, an M-registered Ford Escort.

"The rounders bat was used by this defendant to hit the windscreen of the car repeatedly and it broke in a number of places," said Mr Green.

"Members of the Hunt family got in the car and drove off. They were followed by a hail of things like glasses and cans thrown at them," said Mr Green.

A witness who was on a bowling green opposite the pub, described Jolley's actions, saying he could not believe the level of violence and ferocity.

Tim Ashmole, defending said: "It really was six of one and half a dozen of the other."

He said there were several issues that led Jolley to behave in the way that she did. He said her mother had been terminally ill and there was bad blood between the family.

Emotions were running high and alcohol had been consumed, he said.

Passing sentence Recorder Davies said the incident must have been "frightening and distressing."

He added: "You will understand what you did was quite disgraceful."