THREE men have appeared in court following a disturbance outside Rendezvous nightclub in Whalley on Saturday.

John Halstead, 19, of Billington Gardens, Billington, and James Marsden, 20, of St Huberts Road, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly. They were each given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Paul Harling, 21, of Pasturelands Drive, Billington, faced the same charge but the court was told the police may be willing to caution him about his behaviour and he was remanded on bail until September 18.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said that at around 2.15am the club was emptying and there was ill feeling between two separate groups of males. He said Marsden seemed to police officers to be inflaming the situation and he was seen to push one man in the chest.

He became abusive when approached by an officer and struggled violently when arrested and had to be handcuffed.

Another man tried to intervene and as he was being arrested Halstead got involved. He had already been told to get on his way but tried to prevent an officer making an arrest.

Stephen Parker, defending, said both men lost their good character because of what had been a very short-lived incident. He said another man had been staring at Marsden and his friends inside the club and the same person was outside as they left.

Marsden felt the other man might start some trouble and approached him to ask what his problem was. "He accepts that he pushed the other man, but only when he felt threatened," said Mr Parker.

"Neither of the officers who took hold of him were wearing ties or hats and he did not immediately recognise them as police officers."