AN ambulance answering an emergency call was brought to a halt by two drunks standing in Darwen Street forming a human barrier.

Blackburn magistrates heard they were being encouraged by a third man and all three became abusive when police stepped in to clear the way for the emergency vehicle.

Ryan Ashley Moore, 19, of Barrington Court; Gavin John Nicholson, 22, of Hodder Street; and Lee Alan Pinder, 21, of Bold Street, all Accrington; were each fined £50 with £55 costs after pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said the trio had already been spoken to by police on Blackburn town centre duty in the early hours of Sunday.

They were warned about their behaviour but a short time after Nicholson and Moore went into the road, stopping traffic.

The ambulance, which had its blue lights flashing, was caught in the traffic jam.

Nicholson told the court that he must have been drunk because he could not remember much of the incident.

Pinder apologised for his drunken state and Moore, who also apologised, said he could not remember standing in front of the ambulance.