A WOMAN whose name was painted in two foot high letters on a motor-way bridge has been protected by a restraining order against her former boyfriend.

The messages "I love you Kerry McKenna" and "I miss you Kerry McKenna" appeared on a bridge over the M65 at Guide.

A restraining order was made on the basis that Peter Joseph Mooring had sent Miss McKenna text messages and made phone calls to her.

The motorway message was mentioned at a previous hearing but was not mentioned when Mooring was sentenced at Hyndburn magistrates.

Mooring, of Slaidburn Drive, Accrington, pleaded guilty to harassing Kerry McKenna between August 18 and November 13.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £150 comp-ensation and £150 costs.

He was also made subject to a restraining order for two years. The order prevents him having any contact with Kerry McKenna or her mother Rose McKenna and bans him from going within 25metres of their home, which is also on Slaidburn Drive.

Graham Parkinson, defending, said Miss McKenna had ended the relationship on August 18. "She formed another relation-ship and for about six weeks wasn't interested in my client," said Mr Parkinson.

"He accepts he was texting her and calling her to try and rekindle their relationship and that some of these weren't of a pleasant nature." Mr Parkinson said that after six weeks she finished with the new boyfriend.

"She called my client and he told her to go west," said Mr Parkinson.

"Again there were some text messages exchanged and there was unpleasantness on both sides. However, it is my client who is in court and not his former girlfriend."