A CLACTON man was involved in a drive-by shooting after a row over a drink, a court heard.

Three shots were fired at the TP sports bar in Queen Street, Colchester, as a shotgun was pointed out of a car window and fired at the club.

No-one was injured in the late-night attack but a court heard the shots were aimed at chest and head height.

"This was a revenge attack that got well out of hand," prosecutor Martyn Levett told Chelmsford Crown Court.

He alleged Dean Edwards, 38, fired the shots at the building after he was asked to leave and Michael Cooper was his driver.

Edwards, of Convent Close, Braintree, had gone to the club on September 15 last year but was asked to leave about 15 minutes later after a row over a drink.

"He did not like it and used words that were threatening and that he was going to have the doormen done," Mr Levett said.

"He wanted to get revenge but the Crown says it got well out of hand," Mr Levett told the jury of eight men and four women.

Police later traced at least 12 phone calls and a couple of text messages from Edwards to 40-year-old Michael Cooper.

By 2am, Cooper had travelled from his home in Russell Road, Clacton, to Colchester.

The trial heard CCTV cameras picked up Cooper's Rover car travelling around the town centre one-way system five times during the shootings.

"The first circuit was a look or reconnaissance of the scene and on the second circuit, the first shot was fired and hit the club near a window," Mr Levett said.

Both men deny possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and Cooper denies another charge of posessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

•The trial continues.