Abstract: A procatalyst and a process for the preparation of a multimodal ethylene homopolymer or copolymer by gas-phase polymerisation is described. The procatalyst used in the process is prepared by: a) contacting the support, preferably silica with a halogenating agent, preferably ethyl aluminium dichloride to obtain a first reaction product, b) contacting the first reaction product with a compound or mixture containing hydrocarbyl and one or more of hydrocarbyloxy, monoalkylamido, dialkylamido, carboxylato and alkoxymethoxy groups linked to magnesium, thereby to obtain a second reaction product (the procatalyst precursor), and c) contacting the second reaction product with a titanium compound, preferably TiCl4. In step a) the molar ratio of the alkyl metal chloride to the surface hydroxyls of the inorganic oxide is preferably between 1:1 and 10:1. In step b) the atomic ratio of the magnesium to the chlorine of the alkyl metal chloride of step a) preferably is between 1:1.5 to 1:2.5.