TWO teenagers today revealed their horror at finding out they were on a killer's hit-list and said: "We're lucky to be alive".

Mark Harrington, 20, who has a history of mental problems, kept the names of five intended victims who he threatened to "blow away one by one".

Top of the list was 18-year-old Anthony Rigby, killed by Harrington with a single shot to the back of the head at his Swift Close flat, in Larkhill, Blackburn, on January 7 this year.

Harrington, of St James Road, Blackburn, has been detained indefinitely in a secure mental health unit after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Preston Crown Court.

After the case detective superintendent Ian Jones, who led the inquiry, said Harrington "had the capability" of killing again.

Today Lee Holden and Luke Counter -- who were second and third on Harrington's death list -- told of how they lived in fear of Harrington.

Luke, a data analyst, of Blackburn, said: "After Anthony got shot I thought it was us next. I thought he was going to come after me but luckily he was caught."

When police did catch Harrington, the day after the shooting, he still had the weapon in his BMW.

And only hours after shooting Anthony Rigby with a deactivated .38 Olympic revolver, which he had drilled so it would fire, Harrington pulled up alongside Lee Holden in a car park and gave him a chilling smirk.

Unaware his best friend lay dying in a pool of blood, Lee, who had known Anthony since they were four, acknowledged the killer.

Lee, a trainee auto electrician, said: "I was in a rush to get back to college so I got in my friend's car and we drove off. I didn't speak to him but we acknowledged each other.

"It's frightening looking back now."

Harrington had been friends with Luke, Lee, both 19 and Anthony, having all grown up in the same area.

They said Harrington was a bright lad who attended Our Lady of St John's, in North Road, Blackburn, before going on to St Mary's College.

But as Harrington's behaviour began to deteriorate due to mental health problems, for which he was eventually treated at the psychiatric unit at Queen's Park Hospital, in Blackburn, his former friends stopped calling him.

They became wary of him due to his aggressive attitude.

In June last year Harrington showed the hit-list to Luke after he had offered him and Anthony a lift following a night out in Blackburn.

Once in the car Harrington pulled out a large knife from under the seat and held it to Anthony's throat causing a deep cut. While Anthony was out of the car Harrington pulled out the list.

Luke said: "It was a scruffy piece of paper which looked like it had been ripped from a note pad. I read Anthony's name, Lee's and mine, I didn't read the other two.

Just before Christmas Lee said Harrington tried to lure him out on his own.

Lee said: "He rang me up and asked me to come out to Shear Brow to help jump start his car.

"None of us liked to be on our own with him, so I rang another mate and we went together.

"The way the car was parked, it was obvious it had not broken down and all he had done was remove one of the wires to the battery.

"I think he wanted to get me on my own and who knows what would have happened."