DETECTIVES investigating the killing of a North-East pensioner who was shot as he had a drink at his local, yesterday arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

Fred Fowler, 72, was an innocent victim of the shooting, at the Tap and Barrel pub, in Sunderland, on Sunday evening.

A police spokesman said yesterday a man from the Sunderland area had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was helping detectives with their inquiries.

Police liaison officers are helping Mr Fowler's daughter, 37, and four-year-old grandson come to terms with his death.

Officers said his close-knit family were deeply upset and distressed at the violent and sudden way Mr Fowler met his death.

After he and his wife separated, Mr Fowler gave up his job to bring up his daughter, then aged nine, and they had been extremely close ever since.

He is part of a large family and is also survived by two brothers and three sisters.

Mr Fowler was described by friends and family as a gentleman, a loving father and grandfather and a very shy man.

During the 1980s, he did voluntary work for the Alzheimer's Trust in Sunderland and both he and his daughter were on the trust's committee, he as treasurer.

Mr Fowler was also chairman of the Grangetown Workingmen's Club during the 1980s and remained a member until he died.

He organised dances at the club and would sing a song at the end of the night.

In 2001, he moved into sheltered accommodation in Hendon and was active on the committee at his new home and was well liked by other residents.

Mr Fowler suffered from arthritis and osteoporosis and walked with the aid of a stick, but despite his medical condition he was never ill.

He was a regular social drinker at the Tap and Barrel, which was the nearest pub he could walk to.

Police said yesterday a 19-year-old man, who was critically injured in the shooting, was moved from a high dependency unit into a hospital side ward. His condition is described as stable and comfortable.

Officers have established that a black Ford Focus car, registration LS02 ZKV, which was later abandoned by the gunmen, had been stolen from the Ingleby Barwick area, near Stockton.

Detective Superintendent Barbara Franklin, who is leading the 50-strong investigation team, said: "House-to-house inquiries are continuing.

She said: "We would again appeal for anyone with information to contact us."

* Anyone who can help is asked to call 0191-454 7555 ext 66086.