A father of seven who was shot dead in a suspected revenge killing at a beauty spot may have been lured there by his killers.

David Rice, of St Vincent Street, South Shields, was shot repeatedly by two masked men at the town's Marsden Rock car park on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old, known as Noddy, was sitting alone in his car when the gunmen opened fire at 4pm.

He is understood to have crawled out of the vehicle before being shot a final time as he lay on the ground.

The two men, who wore Balaclavas, fled in a black Ford Mondeo, which was found burned out in nearby Lizard Lane.

Detectives say the shooting could have been motivated by revenge. Yesterday Det Supt Barbara Franklin, leading the inquiry, said Mr Rice could have been waiting for a pre-arranged meeting.

She said: "We believe Mr Rice had arranged to meet someone in the car park. It was a place he often met friends and associates or just parked his car before going to train on the beach.

"Although a lot of witnesses to the actual shooting have come forward, his attackers were wearing Balaclavas at the time and we are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the black Ford Mondeo being driven from the scene.

"This was a warm spring day and the area would have been busy at the time. We ask people to get in touch with any information they have, no matter how trivial they think it is."

A South Shields woman, 25, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and a Gateshead man, 38, was arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday. A 46-year-old man also arrested in connection with the incident after raid on a flat in Wallsend early on Thursday, has been released on bail.

Mr Rice, who was engaged, had seven children aged from two to 25.

A dealer in secondhand cars, he was well known in South Shields.

In 1996, Mr Rice was jailed for five-and-a-half years by Newcastle Crown Court for possession of Ecstasy with intent to supply.

In 2002, he was the victim of a knife attack when he was slashed across the face at Eivissa nightclub in Winchester Street, South Shields.

A post-mortem examination has revealed he died from gunshot wounds. No weapon has been found.

Anyone with information should call police on (0191) 454-7555 ext 66323 or ext 66320.