A "much-loved family man" was shot in the back of the head in cold blood as he walked home from the pub.

Dean Edwards was cutting through Betts Park, in Penge near Bromley, on his way home from drinking with friends when he was killed.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene, near the park's Croydon Road exit, at about 2.20am on Sunday, July 12.

Dean was found collapsed in the road and despite the efforts of emergency services, he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

One week on from the fatal shooting, detectives are appealing to anyone that lives near Betts Park or the surrounding area to come forward if they heard anything on the night in question.

Officers were out in the area around Croydon Road, near the junction with Tremaine Road, yesterday to speak to anyone who might have seen or heard something significant.

Detectives are particularly interested to hear from anyone who was in the area between 12.15am and 1am on July 12.

Senior Investigating Officer Det Ch Insp Kate Kieran, says it is not thought Dean was involved in any criminal activity and that he was "loved" by those living in the area.

“The investigation team is working around the clock to try to establish the events that took place between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning which have resulted in the death of an innocent family man who was loved in the local area," she said.

“Dean was on his way home from the pub, where he had met his friends for a drink earlier in the evening, and was simply using the park as a way to cut through when he was shot from behind just as he was about to leave Betts Park.

“We have no reason to believe that Dean was involved in any criminal activity, and we cannot understand why anyone would commit such a violent act.

“Officers have been doing house-to-house visits this week appealing for information to advance the investigation, and analysing CCTV footage from the night in question.

“I am appealing to anyone that might have heard anything on the night that might have made them sit up or perhaps made them feel uncomfortable.

“Please come forward and speak to us if you saw or heard anything as your information might be crucial to us solving the puzzle and finding the missing pieces of significant information.

“We will not rest until we have established what happened on that night; but most importantly, Dean’s family - who are grieving the tragic loss of a loved father - need answers.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact homicide detectives via the incident room on 0208 721 4868, or via 101 quoting CAD 1402/12JUL.

Alternatively, you can provide information 100% anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read more: All the latest news from Bexley and Bromley