Lennon had been at a mid-town studio earlier in the evening

England have

Former Beatle John Lennon has been shot dead by an unknown gunman who opened fire outside the musician's New York apartment.

The 40-year-old was shot several times as he entered the Dakota, his luxury apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side, opposite Central Park, at 2300 local time.

He was rushed in a police car to St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, where he died.

His wife, Yoko Ono, who is understood to have witnessed the attack, was with him.

A police spokesman said a suspect was in custody, but he had no other details of the shooting.

"This was no robbery," the spokesman said, adding that Mr Lennon was probably shot by a "deranged" person.

Witness reports say at least three shots were fired and others have claimed they heard six.

There are also reports Mr Lennon staggered up six steps into thevestibuleafter he was shot, before collapsing.

Jack Douglas, Lennon's producer, said he and the Lennons had been at a studio called the Record Plant in mid-town earlier in the evening and Lennon left at 2230.

Mr Lennon said he planned to have some dinner and then return home, Mr Douglas said.

The Lennons are said to have left their limousine on the street and walked up the driveway when the gunman opened fire.

It is unclear whether the man had been lying in wait in the entrance to the building for Mr Lennon, or whether he came up behind him.

Witnesses describe the gunman as a "pudgy kind of man", 35 to 40 years old with brown hair.

Other former band members, Paul McCartney, guitarist George Harrison and drummer Ringo Starr are thought to have been informed of Lennon's murder.

Fans have already begun arriving at the scene, many still unaware Lennon has died.

Mr Lennon is survived by his wife, their son Sean, and his son from a previous relationship, Julian.   

Lords' broadcasts will be piloted first

The motion by Lord Soames, who said he wants the public to see the Lords "warts and all", won an overwhelming majority.

Peers voted 74 in favour with 24 against the motion.

The enthusiastic mood for televising debates in the Lords will put considerable pressure on the House of Commons to follow suit.

Up until now it has resisted suggestions to do so.

A similar ballot in the Commons last month carried only five votes and only half the House took part.

Lord Soames said it was an important decision particularly against the backdrop of calls to abolish or reform the Lords.

He said cameras would help engage the public in Parliament's "second chamber".

Speaking to the BBC, Lord Soames said: "People know very little about what goes on in it [the Lords].

"I think it is a very good debating chamber. Some debates are to a very high standard and I think those better debates could well be shown on TV for a profit."

Televising parliamentary debates would offer the British public a fresh view into the world of politics.

Until now, it has only caught a brief glimpse of the corridors of power during the state opening of Parliament.

But in other parts of the world, such as the United States, political debates between leaders are shown.

A committee of peers will now meet with broadcasting officials to arrange a trial period of televising Lords' debates.

Cameras were allowed into the Lords in 1968 during a three day closed circuit television trial - but nothing came of the experiment.

Debates in the House of Commons have been broadcast on radio for more than five years.  

vestibule: a large entrance or reception room or area（門庭，門廊）