WITH a bright red nose, huge size 20 shoes and a massive, spotted bright yellow bow tie, Garfield Entwistle looked every inch the clown.

In fact, he freely admitted looking a little "quackers" when he went up before the beak yesterday.

For he was appearing in court after an incident that all began when he made "duck" noises at police officers.

But Bolton magistrates decided that his clown outfit was no laughing matter.

He was told he could not wear his wacky outfit in court -- and would have to change into something more sober.

Outside the courtroom, he said: "At least I've made an effort. I'm wearing a bow tie, which is more than most in here."

After a quick change, he faced the magistrates again in black attire and scrubbed clean of make-up.

Entwistle, aged 36, admitted he had an "inner fury" against the police, brought on when an officer began to date an ex-girlfriend. So when walking past police attending a 999 call at the Abbey National Bank, in Deansgate, Bolton, on September 12, he could not resist a "wise quack" -- and aimed a couple of duck noises in their direction.

The court was told he was warned by police to stop.

Entwistle, of Chorley Old Road, Bolton, walked on for 100 yards then turned round and swore loudly at the officers. When they approached him, he was alleged to have shouted and swore.

He said at the police station: "I do apologise for the things I did because I was drunk."

Defending, Julie Whiteman told the magistrates: "He does not accept his behaviour would have caused harm or distress. He would say he believed what he did caused amusement more than anything else."

Entwistle denied a public order charge, but agreed to be bound over in the sum of £100.