A MAN said to be caught up on a wave of patriotic fervour shouted racist abuse at the owner of a Blackburn town centre pizza shop.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mark Robert Blything banged on the windows of Caesar's Pizza House in Northgate shouting "England" at the top of his voice.

And a police officer arrived in time to see Blything go back into the shop and punch the owner, Saeed Khattir.

Blything, 25, of Beaver Close, Wilpshire, pleaded guilty to using racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

The magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of pre-sentence reports after hearing that Blything had previous convictions for racially aggravated criminal damage and racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

Sarah Perkins, defending, said Blything was deeply embarrassed and ashamed of his actions.

"It is not something he is proud of and he has asked me to apologise to the shopkeeper," said Miss Perkins.

She said Blything had been out with friends and had drunk about 10 pints of lager.

England were playing the following day and he and his friends were singing England songs as they entered the pizza shop.

"At that stage there was nothing racial about their behaviour but he accepts he made the comments complained of after being asked to be quiet," said Miss Perkins.