A neighbour dispute came to a head in the early hours of the morning.

Blackburn magistrates heard Martin Bell was filmed by his neighbours as he threatened to burn their house down and saying he would kill them.

The court was told that at the time of the incident there were four children in the neighbour's house.

Bell, 38, of Sandringham Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. He was fined £400 with £85 costs and £160 victim surcharge.

District Judge Alexandra Preston passed sentence after reading a pre-prepared statement from Bell.

"This was an unpleasant incident when you behaved in a way which was out of character," said District Judge Preston. "It was made worse by the fact you were drunk. You said some very unpleasant things and I am sure you regretted what you did."

Suzanne Byrne, prosecuting, said on the night of the incident there had been loud music coming from Bell's property. At 3.30 am the complainant and his partner saw Bell in his garden pulling at the dividing fence. 

"He was shouting things like "I will kill you" and threatening to burn their house down," said Miss Byrne. "The were able to get mobile phone footage of the threats being made. There were threats of violence but no violence actually occurred."

Bell, who was not represented, said he had been attacked in the past and had been frightened to go to his own home. On the night of the offence he had gone home to get some belongings.

"I ended up drowning my sorrows," he said. "What happened was just a drunken rant."