A MAN discovered dead in the boot of a burned out car in Bury had been shot through the head, police have revealed.

The car, a Subaru Impreza, was found close to a bridge over the M66 on Griffe Lane, Unsworth on Sunday.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said on Tuesday that the victim died from a single bullet wound to his head.

Detectives investigating the gangland-style killing suspect the man is a 31-year-old from Prestwich.

But formal identification of the body is expected to take several weeks and dental records may have to be used.

Pathologists carried out a post-mortem examination but it did not establish whether or not the victim was dead when the car was set alight.

Firefighters made the discovery on Sunday night when they were called to deal with the burning car near a motorway bridge in Griffe Lane, Unsworth.

The body was in the boot of the blazing Subaru Impreza sports car which was understood to have had false registration plates.

Police also found a bottle of whisky and clothing inside the car.

A gun was recovered from the home of the man they suspect of being the victim.

The death is being treated as a murder and a police incident room has been set up in Castle Road, Unsworth.