MURDERED criminal Billy Webb's father was himself brutally killed six years ago, the BEN can reveal today.

Pensioner Frank Webb was battered to death with a six kilogramme weight by his drinking pal Colin Dixon in August 1995.

Dixon, a friend of Mr Webb snr, was jailed for life following his murder trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Now detectives are hunting the killers of Mr Webb's son Billy -- also known as William Craig -- after he was shot dead in bed at his first floor flat a week ago today.

Yesterday, one of Webb's sisters, who lives in the Greater Manchester area and who is estranged from her family, admitted she had not seen her brother since their father was laid to rest.

Margaret Webb, who referred to herself as Billy's 'little sister', added: "The last time I saw him was at the funeral of our father, Frank. I only found out what had happened to Billy at the weekend when I was contacted by one of my sisters." In September 1996, Dixon, then aged 55, was convicted of Frank Webb's death and given a life sentence. His 65-year-old victim had been found battered to death at his home in Kingthorpe Gardens, Great Lever. Mr Webb snr had also been throttled and his ribs and chest bone fractured in a frenzied attack.

Jurors at the murder trial heard that the two men had been drinking together prior to the murder.

Dixon went to Leeds following the killing but came back to Bolton six days later and confessed to police.

Billy Webb was shot through the chest at his flat in Whiteledge Road, Bryn, near Wigan.

A team of 30 detectives, based at a murder incident room at Wigan police station, is probing Webb's death.

Yesterday Det Supt Peter Ellis, who is heading the investigation, confirmed officers would look at the possibility that an argument between rival drug dealers sparked the shooting.

But he insisted other lines of inquiry would also be followed up as part of the intensive police operation, which is also being supported by CID officers based in Bolton. Anyone with information is urged to contact the murder incident room on 0161 856 7019, Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or visit the police "pod" which has been set up near the murder scene.