No gun has been found in the car which was carrying a man who was shot dead by police.

Anthony Paul Grainger, from Bolton, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest after the car he was in was stopped in the village of Culcheth, Cheshire, in what police described as a "pre-planned operation".

An "initial visual search" inside the car failed to locate any weapons, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said.

The IPCC has also revealed that initial evidence suggests two police firearms were discharged during the incident on Saturday evening, though a full ballistic examination has yet to be undertaken on the recovered police weapons.

At this stage it is known that one round was discharged by an officer carrying a Heckler and Koch MP5 carbine and this passed through the car windscreen and struck Grainger, 36, while he was sat in the driver's seat of a red Audi car.

Two Hatton rounds were discharged into the car's tyres by an officer carrying a shotgun in order to disable the vehicle.

A CS canister was also deployed by hand into the vehicle by one of the firearms team.

An IPCC spokesman said: "Due to the presence of CS residue in the car a full forensic examination has not yet been conducted to establish whether there are any weapons in the car.

"This will take place in a controlled environment in the next few days.

"An initial visual search inside the Audi, and a search of the immediate vicinity of the car, has not located any weapons."

Initial statements have been taken from the officer who fired the fatal shot and the officer who was carrying the shotgun and the firearms team leader.

IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik and the investigation team has met with Grainger's mother and partner to explain the role of the IPCC.

Malik said: "My thoughts are with Mr Grainger's family and friends at what must be an incredibly difficult time for them. Our investigation into the actions of the officers at the scene, the planning and implementation of the police operation and the reason for the deployment and discharge of firearms is progressing. There is a great deal of work still to be done including forensic examinations, ballistic tests and interviews with a number of police officers.

"Investigators have identified some witnesses to events but I would urge anyone who has information about the incident to come forward to assist our investigation."

She added: "This is an independent investigation and we will examine thoroughly the whole incident and report our findings in due course."

Nicholas Rheinberg, the coroner for Cheshire, has formally opened and adjourned the inquest into Mr Grainger's death at Warrington Coroner's Court.

The inquest heard that Grainger was born in Salford and lived in Deane Church Lane, Bolton. His occupation was given as "odd job man".

Grainger was a defendant in a multimillion-pound drugs trial which led to a juror being jailed for contempt of court.

Joanne Fraill, 40, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment last year after she admitted exchanging Facebook messages with co-defendant Jamie Sewart, 34, who had already been acquitted, in August 2010.

Grainger was later cleared of conspiracy to supply drugs but had already admitted handling stolen cars in connection with the case and was jailed for 20 months.

Tributes were left on Facebook, with one saying: "I love you Anthony, you are the one who will be in my heart forever, my fella, my best friend, my soul mate."

The message ended: "Hope you sleep well xxxx all my love Gail x".