Dale Cregan Trial: Extra Security At Court

Dale Cregan has gone on trial for the murder of two women police officers.

The 29-year-old, dressed in a white T-shirt, smiled and chatted to other defendants after being brought in to the courtroom at Preston Crown Court.

Outside, the court complex was swamped with police, many of them armed with machine guns, part of a detail of around 150 officers on security duty for the trial.

The hearing began just before 11am, with Cregan replying "Yes" when brought into court and asked to confirm his identity to the court clerk.

He remained seated at the front right hand side of the dock during proceedings.

Cregan is accused of the murders of David Short, 46, and his son, Mark, 23, in the months before allegedly killing Pcs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, in a gun and grenade attack on September 18 last year.

Relatives of the two officers did not attend court.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.