A FATHER has renewed an appeal for information over the shooting of his son in an execution-style ambush.

Astley Bridge resident Halton McCollin Sr's son Halton McCollin died of his injuries three days after being hit in the back of the head by a bullet fired into a Chinese takeaway in Stretford on January 19, 2008.

CCTV footage captured two masked gunmen bursting into the eatery and blasting three shots at the insurance worker and his friends before escaping on foot down an alley besides a nearby pub.

Police believe the killers were gang members who mistook promising footballer Halton for an underworld rival.

Before he was shot the 20-year-old had spoken to his father by telephone to make plans plans to watch Bolton Wanderers against Newcastle United live on television at Mr McCollin's Pemberton Street home later that weekend.

A reconstruction of Halton's murder appeared on BBC's Crimewatch Roadshow programme yesterday as police, friends and relatives reiterated for people to come forward.

Martin Bottomley of GMP’s Cold Case Unit said: "Halton was an innocent young man with his whole future ahead of him, whose life was cruelly taken just over eight years ago as he waited in a takeaway with friends.

"The passage of time has in no way lessened the pain that his family and friends feel to this day and they are desperate for answers and to see the man responsible for this cowardly act brought to justice.

"What will have undoubtedly changed in that time is allegiances that people with information will have towards each other.

"Some of them may have walked away from that lifestyle and started a new life, free of crime and be in a position where they feel more comfortable talking to police.

"I would urge these people to think of the pain that Halton’s loved ones continue to feel every single day in their search for closure and ask that they come forward.

"We have not closed this investigation and we never will until those people responsible face the consequences of what they did."

A £50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killers still stands.

n Call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.