A big police investigation was under way in north London after a wealthy businessman died when intruders broke into his luxury home.

Mr. Aristos Constantinou, aged 40, was shot a number of times after he and his wife Elena arrived home at their detached house in the Bishop's Avenue, Hampstead, after a New Year party.

Detectives were waiting to interview Mrs. Constantinou, who is in the twenties, to discover what happened in the house at about 1.30 in the morning. The house was empty apart from Mr. and Mrs. Constantinou, whose three children were staying with friends for the night.

Police believe the intruders were burglars and discount any connection between the shooting and Mr. Constantinou's Cypriot origin. A police spokesman said that although a full inventory was not complete some cash is thought to be missing.

The police need to discover whether the couple came home and chanced upon the intruders, whether the intruders broke in after the Constantinous had arrived home and whether there was an attempt to force the couple to reveal the whereabouts of jewellery and cash.

The dead man was an extremely wealthy dress manu­facturer with offices in London's West End. His home is in one of the most expensive roads in London.

Running up to the Kenwood estate in Hampstead, the road is known locally as "Millionaire's Row". Many of the houses are large, detached buildings with elaborate security precautions. Many foreign families live in the area.

The investigation is being headed by Det Sup Robert Green, who has set up a squad of detectives at Finchley police station. The police are looking for witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious in the area of Hampstead Heath between midnight and 1.45 a.m.

It is likely that the intruders had a car nearby, but Police have not disclosed any sightings.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the victim was shot "several times" but he refused to say what type of gun was used. "There were signs of forced entry to the house and first indications suggest there were two intruders" he said.