A MAN who should have been spending a day at the seaside with his family was instead arrested smoking a cannabis joint at a site targeted by police because of reports from the public of drug use.

Blackburn magistrates heard when Mohammed Sohail Patel saw the police he tried to drive off but was blocked in by a police car.

Patel, 26, of Johnston Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving while over the specified limit for a controlled drug and possession of cannabis.

He was fined £120 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 12 months.

Mike Church-Taylor, prosecuting, said police attended the car park on Under Billinge Lane.

Patel was in the driving seat of a Nissan Juke and there were three other people in the car.

After being stopped he provided a positive drugs swipe which later gave a cannabis level of 5.4 micrograms of cannabis in one litre of blood against the legal limit of two.

Ben Leech, defending, said Patel had hired the car with the intention of taking his wife and two young children to the coast.

While they were getting ready there was a falling out.

"That resulted in the trip being cancelled and his wife didn't want him in the house," said Mr Leech. "He contacted his friends and asked if they fancied going for a spin."

Mr Leech said as a result of the offence Patel had lost his job as a delivery driver.