POLICE who stopped a 27-year-old woman driving though Edgworth found a baseball bat with screws sticking out of one end hidden under a seat.

Blackburn magistrates heard Victoria Lesley Jackson claimed she carried the weapon for protection when she was collecting money from rough areas of Manchester.

Jackson, of Hollins Close, Bury, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.

She was ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and pay £50 costs.

The court heard police were suspicious of Jackson's demeanour when she was stopped at 11.50 pm although she did not smell of alcohol.

They found a small tin of herbal cannabis and searched the car after Jackson admitted she had smoked some earlier.

They found several bags containing small amounts of amphetamine powder.

Jackson was cautioned for possession of the amphetamine.