TWO underworld figures are facing life in jail today after being convicted of a botched gangland murder that led to two men being shot to death in a crowded pub.

Drugs boss Ian McLeod, aged 42, of Victoria Street, Radcliffe, and gun-runner Constance Howarth, aged 38, of Rosalind Court, Salford, arranged the attempted assassination at the Brass Handles pub in Salford, on March 12 last year.

Drinkers watching a Sunday afternoon televised Manchester United game fled in terror as McLeod's hired Moss Side hitmen, Carlton Alveranga, aged 20, and Richard Austin, aged 19, burst into the pub, Preston Crown Court heard.

Their target, David Totton, who was drinking at a table, was blasted and another man, Aaron Travers, was also hit as Austin pulled the trigger six times.

But Alveranga's 9mm handgun jammed - with fatal consequences.

They were jumped on by drinkers and disarmed. A known Moss Side gangster in the pub at the time is suspected of then shooting the assassins with their own weapons, before they staggered outside and were beaten as they lay dying.

Totton and Travers were severely injured but survived.

The hit was arranged by McLeod on the orders of another man, security firm boss Bobby Spiers, aged 44, from Prestwich, who was said in court to have played a central part in the murder plot.

It is believed the planned executions were arranged due to a loss of "face" suffered by Spiers after a petty dispute between Totton and Spiers over admission to a Manchester nightclub.

Howarth, from, Salford, who served five years in jail after police found Mach 10 sub machine guns in the boot of her car, was the "spotter" in the pub - in mobile contact with the murder team to tell them when and where their target was sitting.

McLeod and Howarth were convicted of a single count of conspiracy to murder after a five-week trial.

A third man, Warren Mason, aged 23, of Jackson Street, Kearsley, who was said to be the getaway driver, was found not guilty.

Spiers is wanted by police but is believed to have fled abroad and is now lying low in Spain.

Trial judge Mr Justice Andrew Smith remanded McLeod and Howarth into custody. They will be sentenced on a date yet to be fixed.

The judge gave no indication of the likely length of sentences.

Conspiracy to murder can carry a life sentence depending on the level of danger to the public a defendant represents.

Both McLeod and Howarth have long and serious criminal records.

Detectives from Greater Manchester Police's major incident team launched the double-murder inquiry after the shooting.

They were able to track and recover the mobile phone records between McLeod, Howarth and the two-man hit squad - damning evidence put before the jury.

Outside court, Detective Superintendent Andy Tattersall, who led the investigation, said: "This was a premeditated attempt at cold-blooded murder in a pub packed with families and children on a Sunday afternoon.

"Howarth and McLeod may not have physically pointed a gun at Totton but their involvement was so integral to the organisation of this venture that without them it would not have been possible.

"The investigation has been an extremely difficult and complex case, with many people reluctant to come forward with information for fear of reprisals.

"From the outset, the investigation team was faced with little other than the registration number of a car seen in the area, two dead bodies and two mobile phones.

"It is only thanks to the hard work and dedication of a team of officers that the convictions have been possible."