A ROW between a 30-year-old Blackburn man and his aunt ended in violence outside a bingo hall.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Howard Wayne Eastham grabbed his aunt by the throat during the incident and she fell to the floor.

Eastham, of Romney Walk, pleaded guilty to assault. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £75 with £50 costs.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said the dispute between Eastham and his aunt, Regina Townsend, was over a debt.

When interviewed Eastham accepted there had been an altercation and he had grabbed her by the throat but denied pushing her to the ground.

Stephen Parker, defending, said the relatives had been at a bingo hall and had gone outside to have a discussion.

"My client accepts that things became heated," said Mr Parker. "He says his aunt was threatening to get someone to sort him out."