Gangland murder in Bermondsey

George Francis, reputedly an associate of the Kray twins and the Great Train Robbers' gang, was shot in his car outside his courier business, known as 'Signed, Sealed and Delivered,' in Lynton Road, SE1, shortly before 5am on Wednesday morning.

He suffered bullet wounds to the head and chest.

Police now know that a man broke into the victim's yard at 'Signed, Sealed and Delivered' in Lynton Road at about midnight, some hours before the murder, and tampered with the CCTV camera there.

The suspect is described as white, wearing trainers, jeans and a hooded top.

DI Damian Allain said: "It is possible that that individual did not know why he had been asked to interfere with the CCTV camera and so I would appeal to him to come forward and speak to police."

Francis, 63, was a wealthy scrap metal dealer with a substantial house in Kent, but had been linked by police many times to the London underworld.

In 1981 he was cleared of involvement in a £2.5 million cannabis smuggling operation, in which a Customs officer was shot dead.

Francis was questioned by police over the handling of the proceeds of the £26 million Brinks-Mat gold bullion robbery at Heathrow in 1983.

Two years later he was shot by a hitman but survived after a gunman burst into his pub near Hever Castle in Kent.

It is believed Mr Francis bought two newspapers, the Sun and the Star, from a newsagents shortly before he died and we would like to talk to the newsagent who sold him the newspapers as he or she may have useful information.

DI Allain said: "The victim was shot as he was sitting in his car, a green coloured Rover 75, index no. LX02 RBV.

"We know a white Ford Transit and a black VW Polo or Golf drove past the scene at the time of the incident and we would like to trace the occupants."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Incident Room on 020 8649 1556; if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.