A YOUTH was questioned by police over the death of a Newport father after a confrontation with a gang of youngsters.

Meanwhile, the family of father-of-two Simon Gibbons, 34, from Swallow Way, Duffryn, have appealed to witnesses to contact the police.

Mr Gibbons collapsed and died after he confronted a gang of more than 10 youths when a rock was thrown at his blue Ford Escort car on Wednesday.

Mr Gibbons' car was stoned as he drove along Tredegar House Drive, opposite Mallard Way and Sandpiper Way, at around 7.15pm.

Mr Gibbons collapsed at the scene and was taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Last night, his cousin Bianca Beaumont, 15, from Swallow Way, pictured, demanded answers into his death.

"I want to know what happened and would say to anyone who was there that they should tell the police what happened," she said, adding one witness claimed the gang shouted at Mr Gibbons: "Get back in your car or we'll kick your head in."

Miss Beaumont said Mr Gibbons - a former security guard with Asda, Duffryn - had undergone a triple by-pass operation on his heart.

"I think he couldn't take the stress of what they were doing to him," she added.

Miss Beaumont said her uncle Robert Beaumont tried to give Mr Gibbons mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and a nurse passing in her car had stopped to help.

She described him as "a lovely man who was really into his kids - a doting father".

He leaves a son Aaron, four, and daughter Dominica, five.

A post mortem examination failed to reveal how Mr Gibbon died and further tests will now be carried out.

Police have conducted house-to-house enquiries in the area.

A youth questioned in connection with the incident was released on police bail. Officers will also be questioning others in connection with the death.

Contact Pill CID on 01633 245260.