Mildred Kelly, of Park Road, Brinscall, was sentenced for racially aggravated assault and harassment against neighbour Rohini Walsh at Chorley Magistrates' Court.

The 65-year-old was ordered to pay a £100 fine and could face up to five years in prison if found in breach of the order.

The court heard how the defendant repeatedly made derogatory comments to Mrs Walsh. She pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that during one incident, Mrs Kelly called her a 'black b******' and said: 'Look at that fat a***, she goes to the gym and spends thousands of pounds and she's still a little fat a***'.

On June 15, Mrs Walsh was standing on the driveway with her husband when Mrs Kelly called her a 'little BB'.

Mrs Kelly was subsequently arrested and taken to Chorley police station and admitted to the charges and said that 'BB' was a reference to 'black b******'.

Magistrates also heard how she had a drink driving conviction and had been given a police caution in June 2007 and was made subject of a police behaviour contract.

Phil Smythers, defending Mrs Kelly, said she had 'gone off the rails' after the death of her husband in December 2006.

He insisted his client was not 'inherently racist' but admitted that she occasionally 'hit the bottle' and lost her self-control."

The defendant was also ordered to pay £45 in court costs as well as a victim surcharge of £15.

• For more on this story, see this week's Chorley Guardian