THREE men have denied murdering Westhoughton father Michael Blake.

In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court, Nathan Daniels, Joe Wilson and Nathan Quigley appeared via a video link from Forest Bank prison.

Two other men alleged to have assisted an offender, Brendan Fallon and John Edwards, also appeared at the hearing via a video link from Manchester prison.

During the 50-minute hearing, Daniels, aged 27, of Nottingham Avenue, Brinnington, Stockport, Wilson, aged 26, of Romney Way, Stockport and Quigley, aged 30, of Cleworth Walk, Hulme, all pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Blake on November 4 last year.

The father-of-one was known to his friends as Blakey.

Fallon, aged 35, of Whitsbury Avenue, Gorton and Edwards, aged 46, of Farley Way, Reddish, Stockport, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender between November 2 and 6 by arranging for the cleaning and disposal of a Ford Transit van intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Daniels, Quigley and Wilson.

Several members of the victim’s and defendants’ families were in court for the hearing, before Judge Patrick Field QC. The trial, expected to last up to four weeks, was provisionally set for May 8 to take place at Manchester Crown Court.

Judge Field told the five men: “Until that time you will remain in custody.”

HGV delivery driver, 28-year-old Mr Blake died after suffering a fatal gunshot wound to the back of his head and another bullet wound to his leg.

He had been found unconscious in a ginnel beside the home he shared with partner Lauren Syddall in Manchester Road, Westhoughton.

In December, more than 100 mourners attended Mr Blake’s funeral at St Bartholomew’s Church, Westhoughton with friends and family clutching single red roses.

During the service Mr Blake was described as a man who was popular with a lot of people and who had a good sense of humour.

Following the service he was buried at nearby Westhoughton Cemetery.