Dillon died instantly on August 6 last year.

Paul Seddon, 27, denied the prosecution's claim that he had opened fire on the pair as they walked hand-in-hand just yards from their home in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Mr Seddon replied politely to direct questioning from David Fish QC, defending, that he did not shoot the father and son, that he was not the gunman, and was not in the street at the time of the killing.

Earlier in the trial at Preston Crown Court, the jury heard how a yellow Metro had been used by the killer, who had worn a full-face crash helmet.

It was later discarded in an alleyway.

The street where the shooting happened

The court heard how Mr Seddon, from Chorley New Road, Bolton, had purchased the car from a scrapyard hours before the killing for £100.

He said he had borrowed the crash helmet earlier that day because he regularly used a motorbike owned by an acquaintance.

He told the jury he had purchased the Metro on the day of the killings but had abandoned the vehicle minutes later, with the helmet inside, because the brakes were faulty.

He said the killer must have found the vehicle by "pure chance".

The jury was told that at the time of the killing, Mr Seddon was at his girlfriend's house in Clark Street.

The prosecution alleged Mr Seddon was paid £5,000 to carry out the shooting intended as a warning to other dealers in the area.

Drug dealing

Earlier, the jury had heard how Dillon's step-father, a self-confessed drug dealer, was targeted because he refused to work on behalf of a gang in Bolton.

Prosecuting, Anthony Gee QC told Mr Seddon he had made up a pack of lies to cover his guilt.

Mr Gee said: "You made this up to explain how it comes about that a car with your fingerprints on came later to be used by someone else in the course of this murder."

Mr Seddon said two witnesses who had picked him out of a line-up as the man seen running from the scene, said they had mistakenly identified him.

The court was told Mr Seddon made £700 a week dealing in steroids but was not involved with heroin gangs in Bolton.

The jury was told of mobile telephone calls between Mr Seddon and co-defendant David Hargreaves.

Mr Gee said they were made just before the time of the killing. He told Mr Seddon: "One was from you to Hargreaves saying you were in position."

"No," he replied. The trial was adjourned until Friday.