Detectives were today investigating a dozen new leads in the hunt for the killer of Tasawar Hussain after a major hunt for information in Bradford.

Around 100 police officers were drafted into the city yesterday to quiz motorists and passers-by, exactly a week after Mr Hussain was gunned down by an armed robber.

The hero dad and his friend, Azram Hussain, chased and bravely confronted armed suspects who had snatched a substantial amount of cash from a raid at Madina Travel in Lumb Lane.

Mr Hussain was shot in the chest by the robber and left for dead in Jowett Street, near Thornton Road.

Last night's large scale 'information-seek' in Lumb Lane, Thornton Road, Jowett Street, Great Horton Road and Whetley Hill, was described as "very useful" by Detective Superintendent Allan Doherty, who is leading the hunt for the killer.

"Between 4.30pm and 7pm 1,700 people were spoken to and early results show we have obtained a dozen pieces of information of particular interest," he said. "We are currently in the process of speaking further to a number of people about the information they have."

Traffic - already affected by the bad weather - built up in both directions as the teams of officers questioned drivers one-by-one.

But although it led to delays, most people were happy to help in the murder hunt, officers said.

Det Supt Doherty said: "People seemed quite happy to help. A man has lost his life. People were inconvenienced and there may have been some irate motorists, but our officers were being polite and making sure each witness was dealt with properly."

He said the operation had been a success.

"We have had a couple of promising witnesses including one man who thinks he saw the robbery, and that's encouraging," he added. "It is still early days."

Around 100 uniformed officers were drafted in from the West Yorkshire force's operation support unit to help carry out the interviews.

They joined the team of detectives working full-time on the inquiry, fanning out over the Manningham area and quizzing motorists at roadblocks.

Potential witnesses were taken to one of a number of special police vans kitted out as mobile offices, where they could give a statement immediately.

Det Supt Doherty revealed that some names had already been put forward by members of the public but had been eliminated from the inquiry.

He warned that the investigation could prove to be a long haul as it would be thorough and painstaking.

"An inquiry like this is like setting off on an ocean liner," he said. "You can't just go off with no purpose or direction. The first week was about dealing with the family, and the first witnesses and the four forensic scenes. We also eliminated one or two people from the inquiry. That was a lot to get through in seven days.

"This could be a long-drawn-out affair, if that's what it takes. We will be carefully looking at every piece of paper, every registration number."

Mr Hussain's 34-year-old widow Naila has made a tearful plea for help to catch her husband's killers.

At a special press conference, she said the murder had "broken her heart".

The pregnant mum said the killers had taken her husband "from my beautiful daughter, from me".

Anyone with information about the robbery or Mr Hussain's murder should call the incident room on (01274) 373130 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.