Colourful language was used by both sides during a domestic dispute, a court was told.

Hyndburn magistrates heard that Sean Philip Weir referred to the colour of his girlfriend's skin before slapping her.

But the court was told before that he had been deeply offended by her insults which revolved around his ginger hair.

And defence solicitor Pamela Baldwin said there was a certain inequality about the situation.

Miss Baldwin said she understood there is currently a petition on a Government web site calling for ginger references to be included alongside those to colour race and religion which can be considered to be racially aggravating.

Weir, 25, of Preston Old Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault. He was bailed for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Miss Baldwin said the argument had started because Weir discovered a text on her phone which suggested she was seeing another man.