DETECTIVES are hoping new forensic evidence will close the net on an armed gang after a wealthy businessman was shot at point-blank range.

Peter Stephenson was wounded in the head with a shotgun during a struggle in the grounds of his Kepwick Hall mansion, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday.

The 52-year-old chairman of Teesside oil company Able UK, and his partner, Karen Dewer, confronted three men spotted prowling the gardens just after 8pm.

Mr Stephenson was wounded as he grappled with one of the intruders, before they sped off in a Peugeot 206 belonging to his daughter, Rachel, who unwittingly walked in on the scene.

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

The car was found in the lane, close to the A64, on Thursday at about 6.30pm - and police are hoping it may provide a breakthrough in the inquiry.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Officers will be searching that area and the car will be examined by our forensics experts.

"Meanwhile, we are continuing house-to-house inquiries in the villages around Kepwick."

Police are urging the driver of a red car, who pulled up by the abandoned Peugeot and smashed the window to check whether anyone was inside, to come forward.

A grey Volvo was also spotted near the car and anyone with information about it should also contact police.

Mr Stephenson has been discharged from the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, and has spoken in great detail to detectives, who are aiming to build up a picture of the gang, thought to be two white men and one black man.

Witnesses are asked to contact a special police hotline on (01609) 768060.