A UNIVERSITY student who punched a middle-aged man in a road rage melee, could be facing jail.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Ghohar Naeem, 23, had told 56-year-old Rodney Fish: "You're in my area," before knocking him to the ground in the unprovoked attack in the middle of the afternoon.

Mr Fish suffered various injuries and afterwards did not feel fit enough to attend his parents' diamond wedding party.

Naeem, of Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, last August 9. He was bailed for a pre-sentence report and warned all options were open.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said the victim suffered bruises, cuts and extensive facial abrasions at the hands of the defendant and had to go to hospital.

Mr Fish, whose wife was a passenger in the car, had been driving along Clayton Street in Nelson to go for petrol at Morrisons.

He saw a vehicle coming towards him on his side of the road and stopped as he thought it was turning into a car park. He gesticulated to the defendant to go into the car park, but was met with abuse.

John Rusius, defending, said Naeem, who had no previous convictions, had to pull out into Mr Fish's side of the road to turn into the car park.

Mr Fish did not seem happy about this and made a gesture, which the defendant took to be in anger.