A 24-YEAR-OLD Blackburn man was caught in possession of a blow pipe and five metal tipped darts.

Blackburn magistrates heard that police also recovered a bow and 22 arrows from Imran Patel's car.

But the court was told the weapons were no more than holiday souvenirs bought from a beach seller in Bali which had been taken on airplanes and even inspected by customs officers at Manchester without any problems.

Patel, 24, of London Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possession offensive weapons in a public place. He was fined £150 with £51 costs. The magistrates also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the weapons.

Harold Smith, prosecuting, said police went to the car park of Age Concern in Shear Brow and saw Patel holding a wooden object to his lips. When he saw the officers Patel threw the item into the back of his car.

The police recovered a one metre long blow pipe from the rear of the car as well as five wooden darts with metal tips. They also found the one and a half metre long bow and 22 wooden arrows with metal tips.

Richard Prew, defending, said it would have been helpful if the magistrates could have seen the items or photographs of them.

"My client has been travelling round the world and one of his stops was Bali," said Mr Prew. "While he was there he bought these mementos which he says are purely decorative. I am sure they can be used but that was not what he bought them for."

He said Patel had been showing the items to friends when the police were called.

Speaking after the court hearing Patel said he had bought the items of a man on the beach in Bali for £400.

"They were very ornate and finely carved and I never thought of them as weapons," said Mr Patel. "I flew on to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpa, Dubai, Turkey and finally back to Manchester with them as hand-luggage without any problems. Customs officers in Manchester actually unwrapped the blow-pipe and examined it but they had no problems with me bringing it in.

"Even in the present climate and with terrorism so high on the agenda they were seen as what they are, ornaments," said Patel, who has set up Direct Paper Supplies delivering stationery to local businesses.

"They cost me £400 and with the fines and costs I have learned an expensive lesson."