A GIRLS' night out ended in a fight, with two sisters rolling on the ground, tearing each other's hair out.

Burnley magistrates heard how Natasha Jane Weldon, 24, had butted in while mother-of-two Natalie Joanne Weldon, 21, was getting to grips with a third sister in the back of a taxi.

Natasha, who last year served a 12-month jail term for violent disorder, and Natalie were both arrested, but went home together after a night in the cells.

Natasha Weldon, of Dorset Avenue, Padiham, was fined £100. Her sister, of Lancaster Drive, Padiham, was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

Both admitted threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and must pay £30 costs.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said police saw two women fighting in the back of the taxi, they went over, got all four women occupants out and all began screaming and shouting.

Natasha and Natalie Weldon began fighting, rolled around on the floor and shouted obscenities at each other. Large chunks of hair were pulled out and eventually they were split up and taken to the police station.

Philip Turner, representing both, said Natalie had got involved in an altercation with a third sister in the taxi. All were taken out and Natasha intervened between the two. Natalie then turned on Natasha and there was a fight between the two of them.

The sisters were soon reconciled and went home together from the police station. Both spent the night in the cells.

Natasha, who lived with their mother, worked in a bottling factory, while Natalie was a single mum on benefits.

Mr Turner said: "This was a one-off, perhaps a storm in a teacup. There were no injuries or third parties involved."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.