Police have launched a fresh appeal and a reward to trace two men believed to be involved in the murder of a club doorman 17 years ago.

Christopher Lombard, 30, of Green Lane in Ilford, was shot several times in the foyer of the Island Nightclub in High Road, Ilford, on December 1 1996.

Detectives investigating the murder have offered a £20,000 reward for information that will lead to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible.

Police have released e-fits of the suspects and camera footage in the hope that Mr Lombard's killer's will be brough to justice.

The gunman is described as a very dark-skinned black man, aged between 17 and 20 at the time. He is 5ft 8ins with hair shaved at the sides and closely cropped on top.

He had a small circular scar above his right eye and another circular scar to the right of his mouth. 

A second suspect is described as being of Mediterranean appearance, possibly Greek or Turkish, 5ft 10ins and aged between 18 and 25.

He had dark hair, a moustache and was wearing a hat and light-coloured top or jacket.

A post-mortem examination showed Mr Lombard had been hit a number of times, but was killed by a fatal shot to his head. 

The incident happened around 3:35am, and two other door supervisors were also shot but survived.

Around 1,600 people had attended the Island Nightclub the night Mr Lombard was killed.

The two suspects tried to get in but were told by other clubbers that the doors had closed at 03:00hrs. They knocked on the doors to get the attention of the door staff.

When they came over, one of the suspects fired seven shots through the glass doors into the foyer where the door staff were standing.

The men then fled along Green Lane and got into a silver car parked between Connaught Lane and St Mary's Road. The car sped off east along Green Lane towards Goodmayes and Becontree Heath.

The fleeing suspects were captured on a camera inside an unmarked police traffic car that was in the area at the time and had stopped at a red light a short distance from the club.

No one has charged in connection with the killing.

A review found potential new lines of enquiry and the case was referred back to the Homicide and Major Crime Command to investigate.

A man was arrested in connection with the murder in March 1997, but was later released with no further action.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3868 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The pictures and camera footage of the suspects will be featured on Crimewatch tonight in the hope of unearthing new information about the killing.