POLICE have renewed their appeal for information in their hunt for a Bolton man wanted in connection with the cold-blooded murder of a shop worker.

Tanveer Akbar fled the country at the time of the killing — but there have been reports the 32-year-old is back in Bolton.

The police appeal to find him comes after another man, Arfan Rafiq, was found guilty of killing shop worker Nasar Shazad after a re-trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Despite police efforts, Akbar, formerly of Castle Street, Bolton, has never been arrested.

The killing took place after tensions between rival Bolton gangs escalated and criminals from Oldham were brought in to deal with the dispute.

Akmal Afzal, aged 26, of Bradford Street, Bolton, has previously been convicted of assisting an offender and possession of a prohibited weapon and was jailed for seven years.

Rafiq, aged 27, of Herron Street, Oldham, was originally convicted of murder and jailed for life but successfully appealed his conviction and was tried again.

He has now been found guilty of manslaughter and possession of a prohibited firearm after a three-week retrial and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Rafiq was one of five men originally convicted following the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Mr Shazad — also known as Nasar Hussain — who was the victim of a gun attack at the Brookhouse Wines store in Salford in 2009.

Just before 8.50pm on July 4, 2009, Mr Shazad was standing behind the counter serving a customer when he was shot by Simeon Henderson, aged 30, of no fixed address.

Henderson, who was jailed for 15 years for the murder, fled in a Mazda Xedos, driven by Ryan Manning, aged 24, of Bird Street, Higher Ince.

Manning was convicted of manslaughter and ordered to serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for parole.

Afzal was waiting in a taxi and drove Henderson back to Oldham. Officers are also appealing for help in tracing Mohammed Safdar, aged 32, formerly of Pitt Street, Oldham.

It is thought both Akbar and Safdar initially headed for Islamabad, Pakistan.

Senior Investigating Officer Det Chf Superintendent Mary Doyle said: "More than three years on, we are still trying to deliver justice for Nasar’s family by tracing two men who are still wanted in connection with the murder.”

Anyone with information of their whereabouts is asked to call officers on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.