A DRUNKEN road worker who caused a racial rumpus in a cab office was advised to address his alcohol intake.

Burnley magistrates heard Francis Peter Hargreaves, 50, had been abusive to the owner and kicked and banged the door and walls after being told he would have to wait 20 minutes for a taxi.

A 64-year-old onlooker, who feared violence would erupt, fled into a back room of the office and when police arrived they found her visibly shaken and distressed.

Hargreaves later told officers he had drunk at least 15 cans of lager as well as a few cans before going out into the town centre and was "as drunk as a skunk".

He had earlier admitted using racially-aggravated threats, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, on October 28. He was given a community order with 150 hours unpaid work and must pay £50 costs.

Sentencing, the bench told the defendant it may be he needed to address his drinking in his own way, otherwise he might end up in court again.

The chairman continued: "Once you have too much alcohol in your system, you don't know what you are saying or what you are doing."

The court heard Hargreaves, of Rushton Close, Nelson, had a previous conviction for a racial offence several years ago.

In the most recent case the defendant caused trouble at Alpine Taxis on Church Street, Colne, just after 10pm.

When he was questioned by police, he said he did not remember being racially abusive.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Hargreaves had been out for a long time during the day. He had been out with his son, but they fell out. Hargreaves felt obliged to stay with him but then left him and was upset and fraught by his conduct.

The defendant could not remember behaving as he did in the taxi office and was disgusted and ashamed of himself.

Mr Ireland said Hargreaves had a previous conviction for a similar offence six and a half years ago, but had not been in court since then.

The solicitor added the defendant was very sorry for his conduct. He could pay his debt to society with unpaid work.