A MAN was shot dead in a gangland-style assassination after three men wearing balaclavas burst into a house on a Blackburn estate early today.

Darren Bell, of Blackburn, died on the operating table of Blackburn Royal Infirmary after he was shot in the stomach at a house in Mona Road, Higher Croft, shortly after 3am.

Two other men were also gunned down in the attack.

Police said three men wearing balaclavas burst into the house, which is believed to be occupied by a couple with a young baby.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said the gunmen sped off in either a grey or silver Vauxhall Cavalier or Carlton car.

When police arrived at the scene they found three men in the front room with gunshot wounds.

Mark Waring, 26, of Temple Drive, Blackburn, had a wound to his arm and Steven Bashir had a shrapnel wound to his head.

Ambulance crews from Blackburn and Darwen took the injured to Blackburn Royal Infirmary. Mona Road was immediately cordoned off and no cars were allowed in or out. Police officers were also coming in and out of another house on the road earlier today.

Residents said they were shocked by what happened.

Roland Smith, 71, has lived in the area for 20 years. He said: "I heard a couple of bangs, I believe they were shots. I had a look out from my bedroom, but I couldn't see anything.

"I had a look out at 6am and saw all the tape across the road."

Councillor Ashley Whalley, whose Higher Croft ward includes Mona Road, was shocked at news of the shooting.

He said: "It is very alarming when something like this happens on your doorstep.

"I don't think Higher Croft is any different than other parts of the borough.

"Blackburn is relatively free of incidents like this compared to places like Salford.

"Sadly, it is symptomatic of the country, not just Blackburn."

Lancashire Police have set up an incident room at Accrington Police Station and the man heading the investigation is Det Supt Graham Gooch.

A press conference was being held today.