Three teenagers were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter when a pensioner collapsed and died after confronting a gang of youths outside his home.

Police said John De Almedia, 75, died a short while after the disturbance. The youths, aged 15, 16 and 18, were held in custody for questioning.

Detectives said a row broke out in South Coast Road, Peacehaven, at around 7.45pm on Friday.

A police spokeswoman said: "There appears to have been a disturbance involving three teenage youths.

"As a result, members of a local family have challenged the youths' behaviour.

"This has resulted in an argument and a number of assaults, the sequence of which is not clear at this stage.

"It appears to have continued at a bus stop 25 metres away from these premises.

"Shortly after the disturbance had ended, a 75-year-old male member of the family collapsed and died."

A witness, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, said about five or six youths had been at the bus stop when one decided to urinate on the pensioner's garage wall.

He said: "The guy had to walk into John's property to do it and John saw this and came out and had words with him.

"The youth was abusive so John pushed him away. But then the other teenagers came over and laid into him and his wife. The son came out then and got involved when he saw they were attacking his father.

"I called police and the youths were still here when they arrived and they were arrested."

It is believed that shortly afterwards Mr De Almedia collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack in an ambulance on his way to hospital.

The house was cordoned off with police tape yesterday while forensic officers examined the scene.

The family of Mr De Almedia, who was of Portugese origin, declined to comment at the weekend.

A neighbour said: "John was a really good neighbour to my dad, always having a chat and a drink together.

"The De Almedias have lived there for years and he used to cut my dad's lawn despite being 75 years old."

Police have codenamed the investigation Operation Northleigh and are appealing for witnesses to ring 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Mr De Almedia's death came at a time when Home Secretary John Reid planned to launch a campaign telling people to stop moaning about antisocial behaviour and do something about it.

While warning against vigilante action he wanted people not to be afraid of contacting the police and local councils about bad or threatening behaviour.