A DRIVER attacked a fellow motorist despite a police van queueing four vehicles along.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Steven Groom, 40, punched his victim through the open window causing distress to three children who were in the car with their father.

Groom was committed to Preston Crown Court for sentence after magistrates ruled their powers were insufficient.

Groom, of Scholes Street, Darwen, admitted racially aggravated assault on Mohammed Iqbal.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Groom was driving a white transit van and after an incident at the roundabout at the junction of Whalley New Road and Whalley Old Road, he had pulled up behind sounding his horn and waving his fist.

"He showed the V' sign and shouted racial obscenities," said Miss Allan. "Mr Iqbal responded by showing a V sign which seemed to enrage him even more."

"Groom got out of his van and ran towards Mr Iqbal's car shouting racist abuse," said Miss Allan. "He then punched him through the open window."

Mr Iqbal got out and the two men struggled until police officers from their van in front intervened.

Philip Smithies, defending, said the incident was totally out of character. He said: "He does an awful lot of work for the Asian community and is well respected within that community."