Fresh appeal in showroom shooting

A £10,000 reward is being offered for information

A renewed appeal has been made for information on the murder of a man who was shot in the head at a van showroom in Liverpool two years ago.

Father-of-four James Stanton, 58, of Thornton, was shot at his business, Aintree Commercial Vehicles, opposite the racecourse, on 19 July 2006.

He was attacked by two men who then drove off in a blue Toyota Avensis car which had been stolen in Liverpool.

Police are offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to prosecution.

Police community support officers will be near the murder scene later, asking people in the area if they remember seeing anything suspicious on the day of the killing.

Detectives will also be at the scene, at about 1800 BST - the time of the shooting - and will be looking to speak to regular commuters at the train station who may have been making the same journey two years ago.

'Ease the pain'

Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the blue Avensis before the day of the murder.

The vehicle had been stolen from Sefton Street, Liverpool, on 25 May and was later found burnt out on Blindfoot Road, Rainford.

Detectives are particularly interested in talking to anyone who may have witnessed the car being abandoned in Blindfoot Road, as information they may have could prove vital to the investigation team.

Mr Stanton's widow, Jean, has also appealed for information.

She said: "Two years ago today my husband and I waved goodbye as we drove our separate ways to work, little did I know that hours later my life would be changed forever.

"Please, I beg you to come forward with any information you may have no matter how small and help ease the pain we are going through."