HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope swapped the corridors of power for the court corridor when he gave evidence in a trial at Blackburn magistrates.

Instead of the speaking at the despatch box he stood in the witness box and gave details of a car crash he had seen at the junction of Mincing Lane and St Peter Street in Blackburn back in February.

The honourable member's recollection of the incident, in which a Mercedes car shot a red light and collided with another car, was enough to convict Nasreem Ahmed Al-Lamee, 23, of Malham Gardens, Blackburn, after she failed to attend for the trial.

She was fined £150 with £100 costs and her licence endorsed with six points.

After the hearing Mr Pope said he thought it was important that members of the public should come forward and help to ensure that justice is done wherever possible.

"Fortunately Parliament has risen for the Christmas period and I was home anyway," said Mr Pope.