Police cordoned off the road after the fatal shooting

A man has been shot dead outside his home near Crawfordsburn, County Down.

It happened at approximately 2040 BST on Thursday at a secluded house on the Ballyrobert Road.

Superintendent Graham Shields said it was thought that two gunmen were involved in the shooting.

He said it was believed that the male occupant of the house came outside, where he was shot by one of the two men.

"These two individuals then made off on foot along the Ballyrobert Road in the direction of Belfast Road," he said.

"What I am appealing for at this stage is anyone who would have been on the Ballyrobert Road between 10 and 11 o'clock last night to please come forward and speak to the police in Bangor."

Detectives are investigating a motive for the killing but say it is too early, at this stage, to speculate on what or who is behind the attack.