Murdered jeweller's links with the Dispatch district

For it has emerged that Mrs Bates, who lived at Ravenshead, was a faithful supporter of Newstead Abbey Chapel and a member of the church council.

She was also a member of the Inner Wheel Club and was a colleague of Hucknall woman Barbara Darlison, who is one of the organisation's leading lights.

Mrs Darlison said: "I knew Marian very well. She was a very nice lady, full of energy, and she did a lot of work for causes overseas.

"It is particularly sad that it happened just when she was looking forward to her retirement."

Mrs Bates, a 64-year-old jeweller, was shot trying to protect her daughter, Xanthe, at their shop on Tuesday last week.

Grieving husband Victor said: "We are getting shootings every week. Who is keeping the peace for us? What is happening to law and order?"

Hucknall Labour MP Paddy Tipping attended a memorial service for Mrs Bates in Arnold town centre on Tuesday.

He said: "This was a real tragedy. What can you say about the brutal murder of a decent, hard-working lady in a nice suburb of Nottingham? It has left people shell-shocked.

"I have been in discussion with Home Secretary David Blunkett and Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Steve Green about their reactions to this dreadful crime.

"I have visited officers in the incident room and, suffice to say, they are working very hard to follow up a number of leads to catch those responsible."

The Dispatch district itself has been affected by three fatal shootings in the last year.

On Thursday November 7 last year, John Shippam (25) was gunned down at his home in Chiltern Way, Bestwood Park Estate.

Only two days later, mother-of-three Terrisia Jacobs (33), of Courtleet Way, on Bulwell's Crabtree Farm Estate, was killed with a single gunshot to the back of the head in Nottingham's Radford area.

Then, on Saturday August 30 this year, Marvyn Bradshaw (22), of Hendre Gardens, Top Valley, died after being shot in the head as he was leaving the Sporting Chance At The Goose Fair pub, next to Bulwell Forest, on Saturday August 30.