AN "ECCENTRIC" former councillor appeared in court after a "bizarre" melee outside his home, a court was told.

The incident ended with Ian Jeffrey's dog biting a police officer, Burnley magistrates heard.

The court was told that Jeffrey, 65, who had been shouting at his daughter, was making racist comments to passers-by, had a knife and claimed he had trained his dogs to attack Asians.

Ex-bus driver Jeffrey had given a "lifetime of service to the community" magistrates heard, but that he had experienced a number of personal problems.

They were told of his daughter Lynne Thornton being cleared of the murder of a baby, his 35-year marriage breaking down, his heart surgery and his former home being attacked by vandals.

The court was told he was also known in the area as Krusty, after the clown character on TV show The Simpsons, but he got angry when people called him that.

The defendant, formerly of Bird Street, Brierfield, and now of Hood Street, Accrington, admitted having a dog dangerously out of control in Colne Road in the town, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and possessing a blade.

He was bailed until February 5, for a pre-sentence report. The justices, who said Jeffrey made no attempt to use the weapon, said they were thinking of a community penalty.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, told the court last October 20 police were called by Mark McDonald, the partner of Lynne Thornton, after the defendant confronted his daughter. Officers found the defendant in Colne Road and he was arguing with someone and waving his walking stick around. He had two dogs with him and was being racially abusive.

Mr McDonald told officers he thought Jeffrey had a knife.

Miss Dacre said the animals were barking, officers tried to get Jeffrey away and a crowd was gathering.

He walked away and tried to tie the dogs up, one was out of control and bit an officer on the leg above the knee.

Jeffrey apologised and people were watching as he tied the animal up again. The defendant was abusive and claimed he had trained the dog to attack Asians.

The prosecutor said officers tried to get Jeffrey to go home.

They arrested him after being told he had a knife and found the seven-inch weapon in a white carrier bag. The defendant alleged it was a family heirloom.

Geoff Ireland, defending, described the melee as bizarre and said Jeffrey was probably one of life's eccentrics. He said: "It is unusual to find somebody of 65 who has only just started to appear in the dock."