TWO men have been charged with the murder of Darren Bell, who was blasted to death with a shotgun.

Anthony O'Reilly and Paul McWilliams, both from Blackburn, were due to appear before the town's magistrates today.

They were charged almost three days after five people were arrested and questioned by police investigating the death of the 31 year old in Mona Road, Blackburn.

Police today admitted that magistrates refused them permission to continue questioning a third suspect because a custody time limit expired. He was released but was re-arrested and was being questioned again today.

A man and a woman were released on police bail.

Meanwhile, police frogmen searched a stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in a bid to find a weapon.

Mr Bell, of York Street, Blackburn, died on the operating table at Blackburn Royal Infirmary after he was shot in the stomach when three masked men fired through a glass door in the early hours of Thursday morning.