Police want to trace a group of girls who were near the murder scene

Jessie James was gunned down in Raby Street in the Moss Side area of the city three weeks ago.

Police have put up billboards urging those with information to come forward. With a picture of the teenager, it reads: "Can you live with it? I can't."

Jessie's mother, Barbara Reid, said the last few weeks had been "sheer hell".

Greater Manchester Police say there are "no excuses" for not helping them.

The schoolboy was shot three times with a semi-automatic pistol outside a basketball court at Broadfield Park and died at the scene.

The posters will be put up outside the Asda supermarket in Hulme.

Everyone has a responsibility to take the killer off the streets of Moss Side Det Supt Tony Cook GMP

Police are particularly keen to speak to a group of girls who were outside the West Indian Sports and Social Club at the time of the murder.

Det Supt Tony Cook, leading the investigation, said: "I want the people who know what happened to Jessie to focus on this fact - he was an innocent 15-year-old with everything to live for.

"The people who know what happened have a simple choice to make - they can live with Jessie's murder on their mind or they can search their conscience and speak out.

"I can only think some people are refusing to give statements through misguided loyalties or fear, but there are no excuses this time.

"Everyone has a responsibility to take the killer off the streets of Moss Side."

We don't want anybody to take revenge, we want the law to deal with those responsible Rosemary Reid

Barbara Reid welcomed the idea of the poster and said she hoped it would encourage someone to come forward.

"I am appealing that people should not delay to pass on any vital information that would be helpful to the police so that this killer will be off the streets," she said.

"It has been sheer hell. I just can't believe that this has happened and people are not coming forward to do something about it.

"This is the only way we will rid the streets of this gun culture that is present in the community."

Her daughter, Rosemary, said anyone with information must talk to the police.

"Those in authority are the only people who can solve this," she said.

"We don't want anybody to take revenge, we want the law to deal with those responsible. No more bloodshed."