A WOMAN was thrown into the air when a car was deliberately driven into her as she walked along the pavement, a jury has heard.

Lynn Poole suffered a broken neck in the incident near Montague Street, Blackburn, at around 7pm last June 22.

An eyewitness reportedly saw the vehicle involved revving its engine before deliberately driving onto the footpath, Preston Crown Court was told.

Mohammed Afzal, 24, of Woodfold Place, Blackburn denies attempted murder and an alternative of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.

Also on trial is Arif Gorji, 22, of Granville Road, Blackburn, who denies an allegation that he offered money for charges against Afzal to be dropped.

The court was told that the woman and a 16-year-old girl were walking towards Montague Street when the incident happened.

Bob Elias, prosecuting, said they saw a blue Vauxhall Cavalier driving towards them. Afzal -- whose nickname was Scooby -- was the driver and Gorji his passenger, he said.

He said Mrs Poole was aware that "Scooby" had a relationship with a friend of the girl.

The prosecution said that the car slowed down as it passed the two and that Afzal spat at them through the open driver's window. He said the car then went down the road, turned round and headed back towards them.

Mr Elias said: "Mrs Poole was cupping her hands to light a cigarette. She heard a car engine revving loudly and there was a bump as the car mounted the pavement and then the girl saw her on the car bonnet.

"The girl had managed to jump out of the way, but she had not. She was thrown up in the air and made contact with a lamp post before falling back down onto the ground.

"Her face hit the roadside. Mrs Poole felt her teeth break. She heard the girl screaming hysterically as the car drove off".

Mrs Poole was placed in a neck brace and taken to Blackburn Infirmary's accident and emergency department where it was found her spine was fractured and she had broken her neck. She was later transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital.

"This was no accident," claimed Mr Elias. "This was a violent assault using a car as a weapon".

The prosecution allege that the girl later received a telephone call from Gorji asking if she was going to press charges and offering her "four or five grand."

(proceeding)