The murder of a man in County Down has been described as "despicable and callous" by the police.

Stephen Warnock, 35, of Cambourne Crescent, Newtownards, was shot dead by a gunman on a motorbike in the town on Friday.

His three-year-old daughter who was in the back of the car escaped injury, although the child was treated for shock.

The shooting took place at about 1135 BST at Circular Road in the town, where the car was parked near the entrance of Regent House Grammar School.

It is absolutely despicable act to shoot a man in front of his three-year-old child

Judith Gillespie Chief Supt

A caller to a newsroom, using a recognised codeword, said in a statement the dead man was a senior member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

A motorbike was later found burned out in east Belfast.

Mr Warnock originally came from east Belfast, where two of his brothers were killed in separate incidents in 1972.

Both of their names later appeared on an Ulster Defence Association roll of honour to its dead members.

The police said it was too early to speculate on a motive for the killing but one theory understood to be under consideration by detectives is that it was linked to drugs.

Chief Superintendent Judith Gillespie, the district commander for the area, said police believed Mr Warnock was talking to two people on the motorbike when he was shot.

"The child is deeply traumatised. It is absolutely despicable act to shoot a man in front of his three-year-old child," she said.

'Cold blooded'

Security Minister Jane Kennedy described it as a "cold blooded and barbaric murder".

"Another man has effectively been executed by cold-blooded gangsters who believe they are above the law.

"This barbaric murder could have been even more tragic, as it was carried out while a very young child was in the car," she said.

Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan condemned the murder and said it was a senseless act. He said "dark and sinister elements" were at work.

The Democratic Unionist MP for the area, Iris Robinson, described the murder as "an horrific attack".

Iris Robinson: "An horrific attack"

"We should also be thankful that the burst of gunfire which killed this man did not kill others especially pupils attending nearby Regents House school," she said.

Ulster Unionist assembly member Tom Hamilton condemned the shooting.

"No cause is worth the taking of a life. It is disturbing that such an attack took place in broad daylight and that the life of a young child was also put at risk," he said.

"It is also concerning that the attack happened close to a local school and the lives of young people could have been put in jeopardy."

The Alliance Party's assembly member for the area, Kieran McCarthy, said the horrific killing was "made all the more disturbing by the fact that a young child in the car or children at a nearby school could have also been victims".

"No matter who this man was, no-one has the right to take the law into their own hands."