A POLICE firearms officer is believed to have shot himself dead in a car parked on a town centre housing estate.

The body of Nicholas Corless, 36, was discovered in a silver Volkswagen Golf on Brynn Street, St Helens on Sunday morning.

The Star understands Mr Corless, of Farndon Avenue, Sutton Manor, suffered a fatal shotgun wound to the head.

The Greater Manchester Police firearms officer, who is believed to have been based at Manchester Airport, was found by a passer by at about 10.40am.

Merseyside Police has confirmed there are “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding the father-of-one's death and they are not searching for anyone else as part of their inquiry.

GMP said the weapon involved had not been issued by the force. It is understood to have been a legally owned firearm.

Neighbours living on the rows of terrace houses behind St Helens Town Hall met news of the grim discovery with shock and disbelief.

A number living on Brynn Street were confined to their homes between 11am and 3pm, while forensic officers carried out their investigation.

One neighbour reported seeing police drape a tent over the Golf and a cordon erected across a section of the road.

Another Brynn Street resident admitted that rumours were circulating around the estate and many children were already aware of the situation.

He said: “Things seem to have been kept quite quiet about this. It’s not the type of thing you expect to happen down your street.”

A police statement read: “Merseyside Police can confirm that officers were called to Brynn Street, St Helens at 10.40am on Sunday, February 27 to reports of an injured man.

“On arrival officers found the body of a 36-year-old man in a car parked on the street.

“His family have been notified and a post mortem will take place.

“Officers are not treating the death as suspicious and the matter has been referred to the coroner.”