A couple have admitted being responsible for a frightening road rage confrontation.

It happened on December 27 last year as the alarmed victim, whose pregnant wife was in the passenger seat beside him, was driving along the A66 westwards towards Penrith, near Warcop, Carlisle's magistrates' court heard.

The motorist became worried by the Volkswagen Golf that was behind his Peugeot, said prosecutor Peter Kelly.

Its driver had attempted to overtake but could not complete the move.

Over the next few miles, as the flow of traffic slowed to a halt, the VW driver, Dale Dunbar, 48, three times got out of his car to harangue the victims, at one point trying to open the car door.

Dunbar also tried to grab the driver of the Peugeot through the window of his car.

On two occasions, his partner and front seat passenger Lee-Ann McManus, 33, joined in with the threatening behaviour, at one point yelling abuse at the victim's partner because she would not get out of the car.

The whole thing was seen by the defendants' two children - aged 15 and nine - from their car, the court heard.

Sara Budniak, for both defendants, said that they accepted they had on that day verbally threatened their victims but she said at the time the couple were upset by the driving of the other party involved.

Both defendants, from Paisley, Rensfrewshire, admitted using threatening behaviour.

Dunbar, whose record includes a conviction for assault in 2005, was given a 60 day jail sentence, suspended for a year, with a requirement to do 60 days of unpaid work and an £80 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

McManus was given a 12 month community order with a requirement to also complete 60 hours of unpaid work in the community. She must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

"Other road users were put at risk because of your conduct," said District Judge Gerald Chalk, who described what happened as a "road rage" offence.