A SHOPKEEPER was mysteriously shot late last night in a town centre street.

Mr Richard Gray, 48, was hit in the leg as he returned to his Eccles town centre business, Cellular Technical Services, at 11pm to pick up a telephone he had repaired.

The shooting happened on Liverpool Road, and the sniper struck as Mr Gray was climbing out of his car.

The shocked shopkeeper did not see or hear anything before the bullet hit his right leg and detectives are investigating the incident.

This morning Mr Gray was due to undergo surgery on his leg at Hope Hospital.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have heard or seen anything, or anyone who can help them with their investigation to telephone Swinton CID on 0161 856 5353, or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.