'Gangland-style' shooting victim named

A man shot dead in the street has been named by police.

Wayne Basnett, 30, from Widnes, Cheshire, is thought to have been targeted in a gangland-style execution.

Mr Basnett, a father of one, was found collapsed with massive head injuries on Pepper Street, Hale, shortly after midnight yesterday.

Residents in the village, near Widnes, alerted police after hearing gunshots.

Mr Basnett was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Sources said he was known to police and may have been the victim of a drugs-related turf war.

A post-mortem examination carried out last night revealed he died of a single gunshot wound to the head, Cheshire Police said.

A spokeswoman appealed for witnesses or anybody with information about the incident to contact the force on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.