A MURDER hunt was continuing after a man was gunned down in a notorious Bury drugs den.

Father-of-three Rupert Satchell died from bullet wounds to his chest after it is thought that two men burst into a house at 80 Goldfinch Drive during the early hours of Thursday.

The council property, which is not the home of the murder victim, is known by locals and by police to be used for drug dealing.

Police sealed off the house, situated on the "Dicky Bird" estate, after they were alerted to the shooting at 3.15am. Surrounding streets were also closed as forensic experts searched for evidence.

Paramedics from Bury had earlier raised the alarm after they were called to the house. A man is believed to have shown them into the living room where they were able to confirm that Mr Satchell (42) was dead. There was said to be blood on the walls.

Detective Superintendent Peter Minshall, leading the murder inquiry, said: "While it is too early to be accurate about any motive in this incident we are looking at a possible connection with drug dealing in the Bury area."

A post mortem will be held today (Fri May 24) to establish the cause of death, but Mr Minshall confirmed that Mr Satchell had been shot "more than once".

It is believed two men had kicked down the door of the house in Goldfinch Drive, demanded a bag and then opened fire on Mr Satchell. They then fled on foot along Chaffinch Drive.

The Bury Times can also reveal that less than 48 hours before the murder, police had been called to the same address as a result of a stabbing. A 24-year-old woman was slashed across the face and hand during a domestic argument with another woman. The row is believed to have been over a boyfriend.

The knife victim, who lives in Shepherd Street, Bury, was later found by police at an address in the Chesham area. She was taken to Fairfield General Hospital for treatment to her wounds. Her attacker has not been found.

House-to-house inquiries were being carried out yesterday in a bid to track down the killers of Mr Satchell. Police are still anxious to speak to any residents from Goldfinch Drive or to anyone who was in the house at the time of the murder.

They are also keen to learn why Mr Satchell was at the house. He leaves a wife and three children, two daughters, aged 12, and a ten-year-old son.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact Bury CID on 856 8150 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.