YOBBISH behaviour is blighting residents' lives in a Hampshire village where a man died after a fight with a gang of youths.

Householders spoke out as police continued to investigate the death of Indian sailor Gregory Fernandes, who was confronted by 20 teenagers as he walked through Fawley on Saturday night.

Three teenagers initially arrested on suspicion of murder have been bailed until January, pending further inquiries.

Fawley resident Christine English said the death of Mr Fernandes had left her shocked and dismayed.

She said: "I'm stunned that an innocent visitor could have been killed - not in one of the tougher areas of the city but in a quiet New Forest village.

"The problem of groups of unruly youths hanging around in the middle of the village has been growing steadily for months.

"The council has just given permission for a third fast-food outlet - as if we need another excuse for groups of foul-mouthed and intimidating teenagers to occupy the village centre."

Johnathan Fagan, 39, of Church Lane, Fawley, said: "We dread the weekends.

"Fawley is being blighted by antisocial behaviour and under-age drinking. We must have rung the police every weekend for the past four months."

Another man, who asked not to be named, said: "The main problem is under-age drinking. Kids gather in the bus shelter and on the village green, leaving the ground covered in chips and vomit."

A police spokesman said the situation had improved.

She added: "There has been a problem in the past with under-age drinking but not for quite a while. If there is a problem and residents are not reporting it, we would encourage them to do so."

Mr Fernandes, 32, of Goa, was attacked after leaving the Falcon Hotel with a 29-year-old colleague.

They were walking along Church Lane when they were surrounded by a gang of 20 teenagers, believed to have been aged between 13 and 18.

A passer-by intervened and took Mr Fernandes back to Fawley Refinery where his ship, the Garonne, was moored alongside the marine jetty, but he collapsed and died.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, police arrested a 14-year-old boy and two youths aged 17.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Sunday proved inconclusive and further tests are due to be carried out in a bid to establish how Mr Fernandes died.

Roger Bray, licensee of the Falcon, said: "Two men came in on Saturday and ordered one Coke between them. There was a very good atmosphere in here on Saturday night and no trouble inside the pub.

"The next thing we knew the police were closing off the road. We couldn't believe it - no-one gets attacked in Fawley."

Police say there is no evidence that the assault which led to Mr Fernandes's death was racially motivated.

Contact the Operation Razban incident room on 0845 045 4545 or call Crime-stoppers on 0800 555 111.