A FATHER and son are awaiting sentence after a fracas which left a man seriously injured.

Burnley Crown Court heard the trouble erupted in Clitheroe and a barrister told the jury they may have been led to believe a night out in the town was as dangerous as a night out on the Gaza strip.

The court heard Alan Aspinall had suffered severed tendons in his hand and had to have surgery and stitches after he was attacked outside the Victoria pub and was pushed into the pub window.

One witness to the trouble, Stephen Mason, who was called for the defence, had told how he carried on chatting about his old school days after the pub window smashed.

When he was asked by the prosecutor John Chaplin why he did not react in any way, he said such things happened every weekend in Clitheroe.

Derek Turner, 53, of Standen Road, Clitheroe, was found guilty by the jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm and damage.

Son Damian, 27, of Taylor Street, Clitheroe, was convicted of common assault.

Both had denied the allegations against them and the verdicts were majority decisions which came after more than five-and-a-half hours of deliberations.

The pair were bailed until October 4, for a pre-sentence report by Judge Barbara Watson, who warned them the fact they were being granted bail was no indication of what sentence they would receive.

The jury heard how Mr Aspinall was set upon because of old animosity between the two parties. He was assaulted by Derek Turner and Damian Turner joined in afterwards to help his father.

Derek Aspinall claimed the victim was outside waiting for him, had gone to hit him and had smashed the pub window.

In his closing speech, Richard Bennett, for Derek Turner, suggested hearing some of the evidence, the jury may think that a night out in Clitheroe was as dangerous as a night out on the Gaza strip. He added: "The reality of course is very different."