A COUNTY Durham man has been charged with the murder of his parents, police said today.

Stephen Seddon, who also uses the first name Nic, is accused of shooting dead his father Bob Seddon, 68, and mother Patricia Seddon, 65, last week.

The couple's bodies were found at the family home in Clough Avenue, Sale, Greater Manchester, at around 4.35pm last Friday.

A Home Office post-mortem examination revealed both had died from gunshot wounds.

Their 45-year-old son, of Benevente Street, Seaham, County Durham, was arrested the day after the bodies were found.

He has now been charged with the double murder of his parents and also with attempted murder on the same victims.

Four months ago Mr and Mrs Seddon escaped with their lives when a car driven by their son plunged into a canal.

It was reported that the black BMW hire vehicle hit a brick, left the road and fell into the Bridgewater Canal in Timperley, Greater Manchester.

Father-of-three Mr Seddon said he smashed his window to escape himself and then helped pull his 16-year-old nephew to safety.

He told TV news cameras how he swam back to get his father out from the rear of the vehicle as firefighters arrived on the scene.

Fire crews rescued them both and then saved the life of Mrs Seddon following the incident on March 20.

Mr Seddon is due at Manchester Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning.