THE detective who led the hunt for pub doorman Darren Bell's killers has called for "appropriate" sentences after three men admitted the manslaughter .

Detective Inspector Bob Eastwood said the killing had been a "violent act" which had left Mr Bell's family and friends devastated.

His comments came as two Blackburn men admitted killing the father-of-one who was shot dead in the town almost one year ago.

Paul McWilliams, 28, and Anthony O'Reilly, 36, had been due to stand trial next month over the alleged murder of 31-year-old Mr Bell.

Both denied the murder on February 22 last year but during an appearance at Preston Crown Court yesterday, McWilliams of Stonyhurst Road, Blackburn, and O'Reilly, of Albion Mill in Ewood, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

A third man, Imtiaz Chopdat, 31, of Cicely Court, Blackburn, admitted manslaughter in December, when a high court judge placed an order banning reporting of the guilty plea being entered.

The order was lifted yesterday by Judge Peter Openshaw QC when the two co-accused appeared before him.

It was just after 3am on Thursday February 22 and a group of eight friends were enjoying a party at a house in Mona Road following a night out in Blackburn, when a car pulled up at the junction of Mona Road and Manxman Road and three balaclava-clad men got out carrying shotguns.

As they approached the house, one from the front, the other from the rear, and knocked on the front door it was Mr Bell who was first to respond.

One of the gunmen fired the 12 bore shotgun through the glass panel of the door hitting him in the stomach.

Despite the efforts of paramedics at the scene and surgeons at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Mr Bell, who lived in York Road, died from his injuries on the operating table.

David Steer, QC, prosecuting said the pleas entered by the two men were acceptable to the prosecution.

Chopdat had admitted manslaughter on the grounds that he had been in possession of an unloaded shotgun, while his two co-accused had loaded ones.

The intention had been to use the guns to cause damage and frighten people present, in particular Mr Bell and another man, Mark Waring.

Mr Steer told the court "He denied any murderous intent. He made a willingness to give a witness statement and give evidence for the prosecution."

In relation to McWilliams and O'Reilly, he told the court they pleaded on the basis they had gone to Mona Road -- each in possession of a loaded shotgun -- intending to cause damage and frighten those present, particularly Mr Bell and the other man.

O'Reilly had fired into the kitchen, killing Mr Bell and McWilliams had fired through the front door, injuring someone else.

Mr Steer added "They demonstrated an intention to damage and frighten and a reckless disregard for the safety of those inside. It was never intended that anyone should be killed or sustain really serious harm. Those pleas meet with the full approval of those instructing us and the officer in charge of the case and his superiors. The family of the deceased have been made aware of this decision."

Defence barristers Mr Alastair Webster QC and Richard Marks QC did not apply for pre-sentence reports or for bail. Both men were remanded in custody to February 19 for sentencing along with Chopdat.

After the case Det Insp Eastwood said: "This was a violent act on a number of people who were enjoying a party in the early hours when three men approached the house and discharged weapons.

"The death of Mr Bell was a tragic act which has severely affected a number of his close friends and family and they have been uppermost in the thoughts of police throughout the long and successful investigation.

"These three men have pleaded guilty to manslaughter and I am sure the judge will sentence them appropriately for this crime."

The killing prompted a massive manhunt with police carrying out fingertip searches of the area around Mona Road and house to house inquiries.

One early line of inquiry pursued by detectives was that the shooting followed an argument earlier on Wednesday evening in Blackburn nightclub Utopia.

They also made inquiries to see if the shooting was linked to Mr Bell's friendship with an un-named woman.