THE funeral of murdered playboy Peter Beaumont-Gowling will be held today, close to the flat where he was shot dead.

The service will take place at St George's Church, in Jesmond, Newcastle, at 10.30am.

His family have asked for strict privacy at a later crematorium service, held elsewhere in the city.

Mr Beaumont-Gowling, 52, was murdered at his ground floor flat, in Osborne Road, on St Valentine's Day.

He had only been released from prison a few weeks before, having served five years of an 11-year sentence for laundering millions of pounds of drugs money.

His girlfriend found his body at about 11.45pm on the day of his death.

Police are still trying to piece together his last hours.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 0191-214 6555, extension 62501 or 62509.