On a cold dark December night 20 years ago, doorman Christopher Lombard arrived at work never to return home.

The 30-year-old was supposed to be out celebrating his sister Jenny’s 40th birthday, but a friend had asked Christopher to cover his shift at the now closed nightclub The Island, in High Road, Ilford.

At 3am on December 1 1996 Christopher and several other bouncers had refused a group of men entry as the club was starting to close, but they returned half and hour later armed.

Seven gunshots smashed the glass doors of the entrance, three hitting and killing Christopher and shattering his family’s world forever.

After 20 years and several appeals, the killer of Christopher remains at large and his family long for justice.

See tomorrow’s Recorder for the full interview with Christopher’s family and their plea for justice, 20 years after his death.