Reward offered to help catch Liverpool man's killer
A £20,000 reward is being offered by police to help convict the killer of a man who was shot dead in Liverpool.
Father-of-two Nicholas Ayers, who would have been 47 on Thursday, was shot several times in South Cantril Avenue, West Derby, on 29 April.
Police were called to the scene but he was already dead.
Detectives offering the reward have also released CCTV images of a car they would like to trace which was seen in the area shortly afterwards.
A light-coloured, possibly silver car, was seen to pull out of Snowberry Road onto Princess Drive in the direction of Finch Lane.
The driver did an immediate u-turn and drove back into Snowberry road.
Det Insp Rob Hill said: "We are determined to catch the people responsible for this murder.
"We are particularly keen for the person or persons in this vehicle to come forward. They may have seen something, no matter how small, that could help us with our enquiries."
He added: "We are also still keen to speak to anyone who may have seen a motorcycle being driven in the area around the time of the incident to come forward.
"Community information is vital when investigating reports of this type and we need your help."
Mr Ayers, who was known to his friends as Nicky, managed the Western Approaches football team.
He left behind his wife, Jackie, two daughters, Lyndsey, 26, and Nicola, 28, an eight-year-old grandson, Nicholas, and a four-month-old granddaughter, Ria Nicole.
His mother, Mavis, said: "My whole family are devastated. He was such a lovable person - a great man with a big heart and a big personality.
"I've felt so empty since he died and I feel like it's not worth getting up any more.
"It's 24/7 in your head and it just won't go away. I do believe that if those who killed him were caught it would help us through this.
"They are walking around free and Nick had his life taken away from him - it just isn't right."