Clapham: Detectives tracing the killers of a Sutton policeman gunned down eight years ago have announced a reward of a staggering £100,000 for information to lead to an arrest.

The fresh appeal follows the re-opening of the investigation into the murder of popular beat bobby PC Patrick Dunne, of Basinghall Gardens, who was 44 when he was shot after investigating a disturbance in Cato Road, Clapham, on October 20 1993.

A reconstruction of the incident was featured on BBC's Crimewatch programme last Thursday, November 8.

Already, police here received 40 calls and several have given the same names independently.

The reward is one of the largest ever offered, with £50,000 being offered by the News of the World newspaper which will be matched by the Met.

DCI Gary Richardson heading the investigation said: "We are particularly looking for witnesses that didn't come forward in October of 1993, people with allegiances that may have changed over the years.

"We want to hear from people who maybe didn't know anything at the time but may have heard something since then."

William Danso, who worked as a doorman at the now-closed Street Communications club in Streatham Hill, was gunned down by three men as he answered his door just before 9pm.

PC Dunne, who was attending an incident in a house opposite, heard the shots and came into the street to investigate.

The killers turned and took aim at him from across the road and fired.

The three then walked slowly away from the scene firing celebratory shots into the air.

PC Dunne's brother Steven told reporters: "It really hit when we heard his name on the news.

"I thought this is my brother, he doesn't get into situations like that. Eight years later we know he should still be around. He should still be here."

The two guns that were involved in the incident were later retrieved from a cemetery in Wandsworth, where they had been buried following an anonymous call to the Crimestoppers hotline.

Forensic tests have established that the guns had also been used in a number of other incidents around London.

"Who bought the guns is very important to the inquiry," said DCI Richardson.

"These killings were acts of particularly senseless violence that, even eight years on, have not been forgotten.

Two families are still hurting very much and many people are still missing the friends they lost on that night."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8247 8275, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

November 20, 2001 11:00