Merseyside detectives investigating the death of 11-year-old Rhys Jones said on Wednesday they had found a gun they believe was the murder weapon.

Jones was shot in the neck near the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, as he walked home from football practice on August 22 last year.

His death, which followed a wave of teenage murders, shocked the country.

Forensic tests indicated that one of the 108 firearms taken off the streets by police following the shooting was the weapon used in the murder. Tests are continuing.

In a further development, police said they have established the make of the bike used by the offender, a "Specialized Hard Rock" mountain bike.

Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, the senior investigating officer in the case, said in a statement: "We are following a number of positive lines of inquiry and today I would like to take the opportunity to issue a photograph of a particular model of bike, which we believe was used by the offender on the night of the murder.

"Witnesses on the night described the bike as having a silver frame, black forks and a black seat."

Police have arrested 20 people in connection with the murder but no one has been charged.

Seventeen have been arrested on suspicion of murder, four of whom remain on police bail and a number are now witnesses.

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and remain on police bail and another remains on police bail on suspicion of helping an offender.

His parents Stephen and Melanie Jones said in a statement: "Six months on from the death of our beautiful son Rhys and we are still struggling to come to terms with our loss.

"The last six months have been a living nightmare. In that time we have had to face occasions like Rhys' 12th birthday and Christmas.

"These are normally occasions, which are filled with fun and laughter.

"But instead of celebrating we were left with a completely empty feeling and the pain and loss that we have had to face every day was magnified by the poignancy of the anniversary."