A CASH reward has been put on the heads of armed robbers who wounded a wealthy businessman with a shotgun in an attempted raid on his mansion.

Peter Stephenson, the 52-year-old chairman of Teesside oil company Able UK, was shot in the head in a raid on his home, Kepwick Hall, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, on July 30.

He confronted three intruders in the grounds shortly after 8pm and was injured when their shotgun went off as he grappled with one of them.

Mr Stephenson's daughter, Rachel, then arrived on the scene and the would-be robbers hijacked her car, a Peugeot 206, and sped off.

The silver car, registration W783 WAJ, was discovered 46 hours later, on fire, about 30 miles away in Common Lane, Stockton-on-the-Forest, near York.

Now his insurers have offered a reward of £2,000 to the person who provides the police with the names of the intruders.

Detective Inspector Debbie Matthews said there were three specific areas where the public could help the investigation:

* Drivers on the A1 may have seen the Peugeot leaving Kepwick on the evening of the attack. It was spotted on the A1 southbound near Allerton Park, and drivers may have noticed the agitated state of its three occupants.

* Credit cards from a handbag in the Peugeot were found in Hilton, Cleveland. The car may have been seen there or the cards could have been thrown from another vehicle into a hedgerow.

* Officers are still trying to trace a grey Volvo 340 seen where the Peugeot was found on fire, on Common Lane, Stockton-on-the-Forest, on August 1, and want to hear from drivers who saw either car.

Calls to the witness line, (01609) 768060, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, will be dealt with confidentially.