A MAN thought he had found a quiet spot to smoke a cannabis joint when he parked up on the car park at B & Q, a court was told.

But Blackburn magistrates heard Adam Gallagher did not realise the new Eastern Division Police Headquarters had opened yards away just a few days earlier.

Gallagher, 23, of Old Grane Road, Belthorn, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.

He was fined £40 and ordered to pay £65 costs. Michael Blacklidge, defending, said Gallagher had driven to the car park with a friend who had gone into the shop.

"Unfortunately it was not quite the quiet out of the way place they thought it would be," said Mr Blacklidge.

"He was arrested and put in a police car which he fully expected to turn right and take him into town.

"It turned right and 30 seconds later he was inside the new police station. It was quite a surprise."