A mother and daughter died after they were gunned down with a double barrelled shotgun.

A jury heard today how Christine Chambers and her two-year-old daughter Shania were shot at point-blank range at their Braintree home last summer.

Alleged killer David Oakes then tried to kill himself but failed, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

But the court also heard how Oakes later claimed Mrs Chambers had shot her own daughter dead and she had died as he struggled to get the gun from her.

Oakes also claimed Mrs Chambers had shot him during the late night incident at the house in Bartram Avenue South, Braintree.

Oakes denies murdering his former partner and their daughter on June 6 last year.

Prosecutor Orlando Pownall QC told the trial the alleged murders took place as Oakes could not face the fact his relationship with Mrs Chambers was over.

He armed himself with the shotgun, ammunition as well as a bag containing an axe and a can of petrol before going to the house, Mr Pownall said.

When he arrived, Oakes went to the main bedroom where he saw Mrs Chambers, Shania and another daughter in bed.

There was an argument and Mr Pownall alleged Oakes shot Shania before shooting Mrs Chambers. The other daughter managed to get out of a bedroom window and ran to get help.

Shania was found on a landing outside the bedroom. She had been shot from close range in the forehead.

Mrs Chambers was on the floor in the bedroom. She had been shot in the leg, thigh and right hand side of the abdomen, the trial heard.

Mr Pownall told the jury there had been a history of violence in the relationship between the couple.

Mrs Chambers had been seen on ocassions with black eyes and a friend had lent her make-up to cover brujising The prosecution says Oakes fuelled by jealousy and frustrated by the fact his relationship with Christine Chambers was over, determined he would kill them and then himself