British man shot dead by bandits in Philippines

A Londoner told today how his father was shot dead in front of his mother by robbers in the southern Philippines.

James Nicholas, 28, from Pinner, said: "My father drove through a hail of bullets and then they shot him in the back. When he collapsed they emptied their guns into his body."

Anthony Nicholas, 60, had gone to pick up the day's takings from his shop and was returning to the family's home with his wife Judith and a maid on a motorised tricycle when they were flagged down by men on their land. He was shot as he tried to drive past.

Mr Nicholas, who was in the house visiting while en route from London to Japan, said: "My father had driven on to protect my mother and her assistant but he died almost immediately."

Police are hunting the murderers near the resort of Sipalay on the island of Negros, which has become a popular destination since the government gave communist guerrillas an amnesty three years ago.