GRIEVING Hampshire mum Phyllis Haywood today renewed a £50,000 reward to catch the killer of her gold dealer son.

The 71-year-old pledged to pay out the huge amount to end the 11-year hunt for the gunman who shot her son Ricky in cold blood.

Phyllis confirmed she was prepared to sell her West End home to finance the reward money if it brought an end to the long-running murder investigation, one of the oldest on Hampshire police's books.

It was 11 years ago today that bachelor Ricky, 36, was found dead in the bath above his jewellery shop Ambiance in Shirley High Street.

He had been shot fives times at point-blank range, prompting speculation he was the victim of a professional hitman.

Since then detectives have interviewed more than 11,000 people - but Ricky's killer has never been caught.

Speaking on the anniversary of her son's death, frail Phyllis said: "Not a day goes by when I don't think about Ricky.

"I will never be able to rest until I know who killed him and why. Eleven years is a very long time for someone to be out there, still enjoying his freedom.

"I just want whoever killed my Ricky to be caught and brought to justice."

Now in increasingly poor health, widowed Phyllis, who lives as a virtual recluse, said she would spend today at home, alone with her memories of Ricky.

Her granddaughter Natasha, 21, was expected to visit Ricky's grave on behalf of the family.

Phyllis had originally offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her son's murderer.

Last year the amount was doubled on the tenth anniversary of Ricky's death, prompting several new lines of inquiry which were followed up by police.

Detective Sergeant Jim Park, of the major crime investigation team based at Hulse Road divisional police headquarters in Southampton, stressed the murder investigation - codenamed Operation Tango - remained open.

"We are always seeking new information about the murder of Ricky Haywood," he said.

"Mr Haywood was killed in a cold-blooded way. It is clear he had upset someone but just who it was remains a mystery.

"We are still hopeful that even after all this time there is somebody out there who knows something and may now be prepared to speak to us about what happened."

Contact the major crime team at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545 with any information. Alternatively call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.