A HAIRDRESSER attacked another woman in a pub because she thought she was having an affair with her boss's boyfriend, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Zoe Louise Livesey grabbed the other woman by the hair and pushed her to the floor before raining blows on her face and head.

And the court was told the attack was stopped by the man who was allegedly at the centre of the love triangle.

At the time Livesey was working at Hair by Annie in Mill Hill, Blackburn, and her boss, Annie O'Neil was going out with Mr Booth.

Livesey, of New Wellington Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Heather Fowler causing her actual bodily harm. She was remanded on bail for reports.

Magistrates said they would be looking at a community order which would address anger management.

Pat Bramley, prosecuting, said the incident had happened on a Sunday night in the Station Hotel at Cherry Tree. She said Miss Fowler was in the pub with Annie O'Neil and her partner Mark Booth, the landlord of the Hordens pub in Livesey Branch Road.

She said Miss Fowler wanted some cigarettes but was afraid to go to the machine because it meant passing Livesey.

She was eventually escorted to the machine by Mr Booth.

As they passed, Livesey grabbed her by the hair, and pushed her to the floor, banging her face on a table.

Miss Fowler told police she was on her knees being repeatedly punched by Livesey, the court was told.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said there was a history to the incident which included the aggrieved being cautioned by police for harassing Karollyn Szejner, a friend of Livesey's.

"The suggestion was that Miss Fowler was having an affair with Mr Booth," said Mr Blacklidge.