'Shock' at shotgun death

The victim was attacked by two men

A shotgun attack in which a man was gunned down in the street has been described as "shocking and cowardly" by police.

William Fargher, 38, died after he was shot in the stomach at close range while walking along Cashmere Avenue, in Linwood, near Paisley.

Two men had approached the victim from behind. An argument followed and one of the men shot Mr Fargher, before the attackers fled in a gold-coloured Peugeot 405 car driven by a third man.

Mr Fargher was taken by ambulance to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where he died from his injuries.

William Fargher: Shot in the stomach

About 30 officers are carrying out extensive inquiries in the area.

Detective Superintendent Stephen Ward, the officer leading the investigation, said there was as yet no apparent motive for the murder.

He described the victim as an "apparently decent and respectable man" who was not known to the police.

Mr Fargher, who lived alone and was single, operated a fast food coffee shop in nearby Paisley.

The shooting happened at about 1815 BST on Wednesday, just a few hundred yards from his house in Linclive Terrace.

Police believe Mr Fargher was on his way to his local pub when he was shot.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Ward said: "It is still very early on in the investigation and there's a lot of work to be done.

"The victim's family have been extremely helpful up to this stage.

Small business

"This was an apparently decent individual operating a small business in Paisley.

"How this came to happen is obviously something that we will uncover."

The registration of the car which carried the men was E387 TSD but police said the plates were false.

The car had been waiting in nearby Candren Road and drove off in the direction of Ferguslie Park.

Police said they received good descriptions of all three men from witnesses.

The two men who attacked Mr Fargher were described as in their 20s.

The man seen carrying the gun was reported to have been between 5ft 10in and 6ft tall, of thin build and was wearing a navy blue tracksuit top and trousers.

The driver was said to be older and was possibly in his early 30s.