A woman was last night being sought in connection with the death of a British millionaire who was found shot in the head at his home on the Costa del Sol in Spain.

The body of Andrew Bush, 48, a jeweller and gold trader, was discovered with two bullet wounds to the head in his house near Estepona, Malaga, shortly after 2am on Saturday.

Spain’s National Police said it was investigating the British man’s death, but declined to give further information.

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The Granada-based Ideal newspaper reported that neighbours had seen Mr Bush go into his rented mansion, named Mar Antika, with a woman in her early 20s who they believed to be a former lover.

His current girlfriend, who is British, then came out of the house and was apparently unable to get back in. She called the fire brigade, who managed to break into the property, where Mr Bush was found dead.

The supposed ex-lover was being sought for questioning by police about the circumstances of Mr Bush’s death, according to local reports.

However, a post-mortem examination was still being carried out to confirm whether or not Mr Bush had been murdered.

He owned a number of shops in Bristol, including a limousine hire firm, a tanning and waxing shop, a jewellers and a pawn shop. The Western Daily Press reported that one of his outlets, Andrew Davids jewellers in the Galleries Bristol shopping centre, was closed on Saturday.

A woman who runs a shop opposite said: “I used to see him around. He was a really nice guy – I can’t believe what has happened.”

An Estepona firefighter said his colleagues “broken down the door” of Mr Bush’s house.

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Another local official added: “We received a call at 2.10am on Saturday morning from the partner of the dead man because she could not gain access to the property.

“Firefighters managed to get in and found the man lying dead inside with a gunshot wound to his head. Police are now investigating.”

A neighbour reportedly said the woman being sought was originally from eastern Europe.

“I can’t begin to imagine what the [current] girlfriend must be feeling right now. She could so easily have been killed as well,” the neighbour said.

Mar Antika is a few minutes’ walk from the beach in a quiet area called Cancelada. The Spanish owners from whom Mr Bush rented it were seen arriving at the house to help police seal it off. The dead man’s sister was believed to be on her way to Spain.

Police took away several cars, including a Porsche and a Ferrari, as well as an Audi that is thought may have been used by the woman in her 20s.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it would be providing what help it could.

“We are aware of the death of a British national in Estepona, Malaga, on 5 April,” a Foreign Office spokesman said. “We are in touch with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family.”