THREE men arrested by armed police hunting the brutal killer of little Dillon Hull were still being quizzed by murder squad detectives this afternoon.

The three men, aged 25, 26, and 29, were seized after officers forced their way into a terraced house - less than half a mile away from the street where five-year-old Dillon was gunned down. The innocent boy, the youngest victim of Britain's drug wars, was shot in the head.

The men were arrested at 7.10pm last night in a commando-style police swoop on a house in Brandwood Street, Daubhill. Officers from Greater Manchester's Tactical Firearms Unit surrounded the home as detectives smashed their way in. Police were still guarding the house this lunchtime.

The men were then taken to separate police stations throughout Greater Manchester.

A senior detective said the swoop on the Bolton home followed a "covert police operation."

Stunned residents in Brandwood Street described the drama today.

Neighbour Anne Marie Williams was walking back home from the corner shop with her seven-year-old daughter Charlotte when the drama began.

She said: "A car reversed at high speed in the road and then five guys jumped out. Next about six police cars and vans raced up and they all got out with armour and helmets on."

She added: "It was quite scary. We went into a friend's house because the police were shouting at everyone to stay out of the way. We're still in shock I think. I mean, we see police cars down this road nearly every day but we've never seen anything like this before."

Ms Williams was surprised police had swooped on the house. She said: "As far as I know there is a woman and her son who live there. Two other lads had come round. I think one was the lad's brother and the other was a friend."

The arrest of the men came a week to the day after Dillon was shot in Bankfield Street, Deane, as he walked to the shop with his stepdad to get a bottle of pop. The assassin, who wore a gold crash helmet, also shot the stepfather, John Bates, before making his getaway on foot.

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