TWO sisters who attacked a neighbour after she said they had been sleeping with their brother have been fined.

Claire Luck, 29, from White Hart Crescent, Darlington, and Debra Luck, 26, of Graham Court, Darlington, both pleaded guilty at the town's magistrates, court to attacking their former friend Leanne McClaughlin.

The court heard that the sisters visited Ms McClaughlin's house after they heard she had been spreading the rumours about them and their younger brother.

Graham Ablett, mitigating, said it was a very unfortunate and unpleasant incident.

The sisters had known Ms McClaughlin for about three years, but the relationship had started to turn sour.

Mr Ablett said: "Leanne McClaughlin had been spreading rumours around the estate where Claire lives, making comments about the manner in which Claire looks after her children and basically being fairly unpleasant about her and about Debra.

"She'd put round the rumour that both of them were sleeping with their younger brother.

"These two young ladies found out about this when a friend came to see them quite upset, who told them about sleeping with their younger brother."

Jacqueline Gibson, prosecuting, said that following the fight Ms McClaughlin was admitted to hospital suffering from a bite to her right arm and grazes on both shoulders.

Mr Ablett said that since the incident, on November 8, last year there had been no more like it.

The sisters were each ordered to pay £75 compensation and £50 court costs and were each given a 12-month conditional discharge.