A YOUTH told a jury of his horror as his friend was knifed in an early hours attack in Barnoldswick.

Shaun Parkinson, who took off his shirt to stem the flow of blood from teenager Lee Myers' wounds, said he had tried to carry Mr Myers home but had to call an ambulance and the police when he realised he couldn't make it.

Mr Parkinson told Burnley Crown Court he had at first not believed his friend when he told him he had been stabbed. He went on: "That was until I lifted up his T-shirt and blood was gushing. I looked up at his face and there was blood all over him."

Lee Smith, 23, of Culshaw Avenue, Burnley, is in the dock accused of wounding last June. He denies the charge.

Mr Myers is said to have suffered chest, chin and other injuries in the alleged assault.

Mr Parkinson said he and a group of friends, including Mr Myers, had been drinking in Barnnoldswick where some of them had been involved in a fight near a Greek takeaway on Station Road.

After the scuffle died down, he and the group of friends, plus two girls, set off to a friend's house but sat down near Cravenside Home for the Aged chatting together on a back street.

Mr Parkinson told the court he saw somebody around the corner looking at the group and three of his friends, including Mr Myers crossed the road to where the figure was.

Mr Myers was talking to the man, although he could not hear what was being said and the next thing he knew the man headbutted Mr Myers.

A fight broke out, Mr Parkinson walked across the road to the group and then ran back to the others to try and get help. He told the jury Mr Myers then came stumbling towards him saying he had been stabbed.

Mr Parkinson said he tried to carry Mr Myers home but got as far as a restaurant on Gisburn Road before he realised he could not go any further. Mr Parkinson said he did not see any knife or any other weapon.

He said he later went to Barnoldswick police station, watched a video identity parade and picked out the man he believed responsible.

Cross-examined by Tim Storrie, defending, Mr Parkinson said when the alleged attacker started to talk to Mr Myers he had got a "proper look" at him.

Mr Storrie said Shaun Parkinson was "mistaken" in identifying Lee Smith." He replied: "No, I'm not." The case continues.