TEN years ago today, Halton McCollin Jr was shot in the back of the head in a Stretford takeaway. His killer is still at large.

A £50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman remains available to anyone who comes forward.

Detectives investigating the murder have revealed the gun that was used to kill Mr McCollin in the China Garden in Chester Road, just before 9pm on Saturday, January 19, 2008, was previously used in several shootings between 2004 and 2007.

The weapon was found during the search of a house in 2008.

Mr McCollin’s father, Halton McCollin Snr, lives in Bolton and has never given up hope that his son’s killer will be brought to justice.

Mr McCollin Jnr was in the takeaway with friends when he was shot in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity.

The gunman fired three shots into the takeaway and as Mr McCollin ran away, one of the bullets hit him in the back of his head, fatally wounding him.

Martin Bottomley, head of GMP’s Cold Case Unit, said: “Halton was just 20 years old when he was killed.

"He had his whole future ahead of him, but his life was tragically taken away from him in the cruellest of circumstances.

"For Halton’s family and friends, life will never be the same again.

"Ten years may have passed, but things do not get any easier for Halton’s loved ones as they try to endure a life without the man they miss so much.

“Halton would have turned 30 at the end of last year and may have married or had children.

"Instead of celebrating these milestones, however, his family are left visiting his grave and wondering what kind of man he might have turned out to be.

“Meanwhile, Halton’s killer has been able to continue with his life and today I am appealing to anyone who knows anything to do the right thing and call us.

"Halton’s family and friends deserve to know what happened to their son and this case will not close until the gunman is brought to justice.”