An all-ports alert has been issued by police investigating the fatal shooting of an Albanian man as he visited the seaside to see family members.

Xhem Krasniqi, 31, was hit in the torso after a gunman opened fire in Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, at about 11.30pm on Saturday.

The married scaffolder, who lived in Kent, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton but died just after 1am, Sussex Police said.

Shots were also fired at two other men who were with Mr Krasniqi, leading detectives from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team to treat the case as a murder and two attempted murders.

Mr Krasniqi had gone to Brighton on the day of the killing with his wife and two young children to visit family who have been left "distraught" by his death.

Police said they have identified a man they want to speak to in connection with the shooting, and have issued an all-ports alert should he try to flee Britain.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Riley, leading the inquiry, said: "We are still piecing together all the evidence but we have identified a man we would very much like to talk to in relation to this incident.

"We will not be publicising his name at this time but be assured that we are making every effort to trace him and all ports have been informed should he try to leave the country.

"We believe there is a link between this man and the group of three men and this forms a key line of our inquiry.

"One scenario is that the group and the offender may have agreed to meet, but we are open minded about this and as to the motive. This is not gang-related and there is no suggestion that the group of three men was part of any criminal group."

Mr Krasniqi and the two men were walking towards the offender in Church Road, at its junction with Selborne Road, when shots were fired at the three men. The two men, also Albanian, were not injured.

As a post-mortem examination was being carried out today, police said more than 20 witnesses have come forward and CCTV was being sifted through for clues.

Mr Riley said: "We are investigating this as a murder and two attempted murders.

"Many local people have been shocked and distressed by this incident but I can reassure them that we believe this was not a random incident and that they are at very low risk. Neighbourhood policing officers are in the area and I would ask anyone who is concerned to talk to them."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Welbeck, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.