POLICE last night named the victim of a fatal shooting as 41-year-old Sean Andrew Webster.

It is understood he had earlier become involved in an argument that began in a pub in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Police and paramedics were later called to a house in the city's Cavendish Terrace, at 7pm, on Friday, where they found Mr Webster with a gunshot wound.

He was taken to Harrogate District Hospital, but died later that night.

Hours later officers, including armed police, surrounded the Wheatsheaf pub, on the outskirts of Ripon, and arrested a 56-year-old man.

Detectives were last night continuing to question him in connection with the death of Mr Webster, who lived at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police last night appealed for any witnesses to come forward, especially anyone who may have seen Mr Webster talking to another man in Ripon Market Square at about 6.30pm.

It is understood Mr Webster had been drinking in the Ship pub, where some of his relatives worked.

Yesterday, no one at the Ship was prepared to comment.

It is also understood there had been a disturbance in the Unicorn Hotel in the Market Square, and several people were asked to leave.

Mr Webster's aunt, Margaret Webster, said: "We are all in shock and devastated."

David Neill, 44, who had known Mr Webster for about ten years, said: "He was the kind of person who would lean on your shoulder and tell you his worries.

"He really loved his missus and he was very protective of his kids."

One neighbour in Cavendish Terrace told The Northern Echo yesterday: "We knew straight away that something had happened on Friday night.

"We could hear a lot of noise, but there were armed police in the street telling us to go back into our houses.

"It wasn't until the morning when we found out what is was. We were all very shocked.

"You expect to see this sort of thing on telly, not on your own front doorstep."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01423) 539334.