POLICE attended an early morning collision after a report that the two drivers involved had been fighting.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when the officers arrived on the scene one of the drivers had gone and they breathalysed the other one.

Kiel Lonsdale, 18, of Dewhurst Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £200 with £60 costs and banned from driving for 20 months.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Lonsdale told police he had been involved in a head on collision with the other car. He smelled of alcohol and a breathalyser gave a reading of 72 against the legal limit of 35.

Sian Hall, defending, said the car Lonsdale was driving belonged to his mother and he had to pay her the £750 excess on the insurance policy.

"The accident was the other driver's fault," said Miss Hall. "He stopped and there was an argument before he drove off. Kiel to his credit waited at the scene for the police to arrive."

Miss Hall said Kiel, an apprentice engineer, wished to apologise to the court and to his mum.

"He regrets the situation and can't believe how stupid he has been," she added.