A "LONELY" 66-year-old Clitheroe man used the 999 service as a chatroom, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that in one call John Robert Buller told the emergency operator he was having difficulty with his internet access.

And in a later call he said his telephone was beeping.

Buller, of Hayhurst Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to persistently using a public communication network for the purpose of causing inconvenience or anxiety.

He was given a conditional discharge for nine months and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the charge related to two calls made on December 6 but there had been many other calls prior to that.

"There is no suggestion that at any point he was abusive to anybody," said Mr White.

"The police indicate that he seems to keep ringing for a chat. He has phoned about stray dogs, people throwing sticks at him and his bin being moved. He does seem to use the police as some kind of chatroom."

Deborah Morgan, defending, said: "He is a lonely man, who lives on his own and he struggles with that," said Miss Morgan.

"One of my colleagues has explained to him that 999 calls are for emergencies only and he appreciates that what he has done is wrong."