A RISHTON man has agreed to drop an assault allegation against Apprentice star Adam Hosker after receiving an apology.

Samuel Haworth, 21, claims the reality TV star punched him during an altercation after a drink was spilled in a Blackburn pub.

Former car salesman Adam, 27, achieved fame on the show in which contestants battle to win a six-figure salary job working for top businessman Sir Alan Sugar.

Speaking to the Observer from his Fielding Street home, Samuel said: "It happened when I was on a night out in Blackburn. A drink got spilled and I tried to apologise but he was having none of it. I was punched about three times in the side of the head."

But he has now agreed to drop charges after accepting an e-mailed apology and asking Adam to make a donation to the Poppy Appeal.

Samuel, a radio operator with the Territorial Army, added: "It's all over now and it was blown up out of all proportion. I am happy with the apology."

Adam, now working for a firm in Rossendale, said: "I just want to put it behind me and move on with my life."

He added: "Let's just say some drink was spilled. It does not surprise me and it makes you wonder if people just do things because of who you are.

"But the top and bottom of it is that something happened and I should not have reacted the way I did."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We can confirm that we were investigating a report of an alleged assault on a 21-year-old man at the Liquid and Envy nightclub in Blackburn. Since then, we have received a note telling us that Adam Hosker has apologised and the charge has been dropped."

l Adam, who lives in Whalley, played a major role in The Apprentice until eventually getting his marching orders in week seven.

He is now a sales director at IT Team in Waterfoot.

He has been quoted as saying the show had ruined his life but he told our sister paper, the Rossendale Free Press, that his new-found fame had good and bad points.

He said: "Most people are fine and just want to take pictures of you but a few are a pain."

On the show, he was described as a "real grafter" and a good salesman by the Amstrad boss.