A woman gunned down outside a Nottingham club was a deliberately targeted victim of the city's drug trade according to police.

Detectives say Theresa Pamela Jacobs was shot at close range as part of the ongoing battle for lucrative control of hard drugs.

The 33-year-old mother of three died of a single bullet wound after being shot at about 0230 GMT on Saturday outside the Drum Club on Ilkeston Road

Police used a press conference to appeal for witnesses from the dozens of people thought to have been in the area.

It is quite obvious that the person responsible intended to have the most effect from the use of this weapon

Detective superintendent Michael Ward

Mrs Jacobs, of Courtleet Way, Bulwell had left the club in Radford only moments before when the handgun was suddenly held at the back of her head and fired.

Detective superintendent Michael Ward told a press conference at Nottinghamshire police headquarters in Arnold the shooting was a "tragic loss of life."

He said: "This loss of life of a young woman is very sad but from the evidence so far I can say that we believe she was the intended target.

"She was shot at the closest possible range and it has the hallmarks of an intended killing possibly linked to the drugs supply network in Nottingham.

Effective weapon

"In the last year we have seen an increase in shooting incidents linked to competing drug supply networks in the city.

"Now we have seen this tragic loss of life of this young woman.

"The world has changed in the past three years. People are willing to settle their disputes by the use of firearms.

"It is quite obvious that the person responsible intended to have the most effect from the use of this weapon."

Hooded killer

A murder inquiry has been launched under Operation Stealth, which was set up in the summer to tackle drug related-gun crime in Nottingham.

Since the start of the operation, police have dealt with almost 20 drug-related firearms incidents and have arrested 114 people, a substantial number of whom have been charged with serious offences.

They have also recovered 28 firearms, 130 rounds of ammunition and around �200,000 of class A drugs, detective chief inspector Ian Waterfield told the press conference.

Mrs Jacobs' killer is described only as a man wearing a hooded garment who was last seen running away from the attack on Ilkeston Road.