FOUR people have been charged in connection with the murder of gangland drugs boss Billy Webb.

Brian Roper, aged 24, of Crossdale Road, Breightmet; Sarah Barber, 23, of Barchester Drive, Breightmet; and Julie Hardman, 20, of Inverlael Drive, Heaton, were charged last night along with Paul Swan, 24, from Chorley.

Roper and Swan are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and Barber and Hardman with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The four answered police bail at Wigan Police Station and were due to appear at Wigan Magistrates Court earlier today.

Billy Webb, aged 42 was shot dead at his home in Wigan last year. He was shot in the chest at point blank range as he was in bed at a flat in Byrn as he was waiting to stand trial.

Webb was one of nine men charged with conspiracy to supply drugs worth millions of pounds. After Webb's shooting three Bolton drug dealers were jailed for more than 50 years in January for running a multi-million pound operation.