IT is becoming "less and less likely" that the murder of a Nairn banker who was shot on his doorstep 11 years ago today will ever be solved, the town's former Lord Provost has said.

Sandy Park said he believed it was now "very doubtful" that anyone would be jailed over the mysterious death of Alistair Wilson, who was gunned down on November 28 2004.

The married father-of-two, originally from Ayrshire, later died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, but in the 11 years since his death no one has ever been arrested and no motive for the murder has been found.

The murder sent shockwaves through the quiet Highland community, but after more than a decade Mr Park said local people had "moved on".

Mr Park, who served Nairn as a councillor for 18 years and provost for eight, said: "Obviously there have been cases that have been solved 20 or 30 years later with modern DNA, and I'd like to think that the police case is not closed and that there are ongoing investigations.

"I would like to think it would be solved but it is 11 years so you would think it would be less and less likely. I'm still living in hope that they will get the culprit, but I'm doubtful."

Mr Park added: "As far as the community is concerned I think it has moved on a bit since then. It's just when the anniversary comes along that it makes you think about it again."

Chief Superintendent Julian Innes, the region's top policeman, said in July that he was "entirely convinced" that investigators had "enough data and evidence" to find the shooter, and were just awaiting the "final piece".

Mr Wilson, a business manager for Bank of Scotland, was described by those who knew him as a happy and settled family man.

On the night he died, he had been getting ready to read bedtime stories to his sons when the doorbell rang at around 7.15pm.

His widow, Veronica Wilson, has described how she answered the door to a man asking to speak to her husband, and that she had left them both at the doorstep as she went upstairs to continue putting the children to bed.

She said the man gave Alistair a turquoise-coloured envelope, which has never been found but is believed by detectives to be highly significant.

Mrs Wilson said her husband had popped back in briefly and told her he did not know the man, but she stressed that there was "no sense of danger or threat" at this point.

Mr Wilson, 30, went back outside and seconds later three shots rang out. The visitor vanished and Mrs Wilson found her husband dying in the doorway.

The weapon used to kill Mr Wilson was discovered by roadsweepers in a drain less than a mile from the crime scene 10 days after the shooting, but despite extensive DNA testing of more than 1000 people the gunman has never been found.

The case is currently being led by the Specialist Crime Division's major investigation team.

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham insisted that the case remained active and ongoing.

He said: "Following a review of the Alistair Wilson murder under homicide governance processes introduced by Police Scotland, the investigation remains active and ongoing.

"We will consider all forensic and investigative opportunities.

"We remain absolutely committed to tracing the person responsible for Alistair's death and continue to ask the public for any information which might assist us."