A Christmas day booze-up turned into a punch-up at a Blackburn pub, a court was told.

Magistrates heard that the fight started between a number of women and ended with Trevor Walter Bamber punching another man in the face and then repeatedly in the stomach.

Bamber, 36, of Yates Fold, Blackburn, plead-ed guilty to assaulting Carl Hughes.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £75 compensation and £25 costs.

Wendy Chappell, pros-ecuting, said Mr Hughes and his partner Donna Whalley, had gone to the Printers Arms, Accrington Road, on Christmas Day.

Miss Whalley had previously made a complaint to police about a man who was related to Bamber's partner and she was in the pub, the court was told.

"A short time after two females attacked Miss Whalley and Mr Hughes tried to block their path," said Mrs Chappell.

"Bamber approached and punched him once in the face and then repeatedly in the stomach."

She said that when interviewed, Bamber said he had "lashed out like a lunatic".

Sian Hall, defending, said her client was full of remorse for his actions.