A 67-year-old man suffered a fatal heart attack moments after clashing with rowdy youths outside his Hereford home, an inquest heard.

Deputy county coroner Mark Bricknell ruled the death of grandad Selwyn Smith - who had a long-standing coronary condition - was due to natural causes.

But he hit out at the youths involved for making "a very ill man" their target.

"This sort of incident is more prevalent than it was. There is a greater lack of respect by the young for their elders," he said.

The inquest heard how Mr Smith had gone out to challenge youths playing a rowdy rounders game with a football on the green outside his home in Barricombe Drive, Moor Farm, in June last year.

The mood turned ugly when Mr Smith kept the ball after it landed in his garden.

Margaret Smith told the inquest her husband was "sick and fed up" of the rowdy games and had "many troubles" with the youths involved.

One of the group, 15-year-old Luke Berry, of Moor Farm, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. At the inquest he refused to answer questions about his actions.

Detective Constable Steve Perkins, of Herefordshire CID, read a transcript of his interview with the teenager in which he said not much more than "no comment" throughout.

Another member of the group arrested on suspicion of manslaughter also offered the inquest "no comment" over his part in the incident.

DC Perkins read a transcript of the interview he had with Jamie Millward in which the 24-year-old said he had tried to play "peacemaker" to stop the altercation getting out of hand.

Medical evidence showed Mr Smith had a blood clot in a main artery and could have "gone at any time."

Home Office pathologist Dr Edmund Tapp said there was a "distinct possibility" the emotional stress of the altercation triggered the heart attack - but he could not be certain.

Recording his verdict, Mark Bricknell said that the refusal of Berry and Millward to give evidence was disappointing but a matter of conscience.

Speaking after the inquest, Selwyn's widow, Margaret, said she had been ready for a natural causes verdict but was still angry over how her husband of 38 years had died.

"Those involved just won't answer why," said Mrs Smith.

"Why did they keep (tormenting him). They knew he was poorly. They'd been told. What pleasure did they get," she said.

In her evidence to the inquest, Mr Smith's friend and neighbour Mary Gray offered a blunt answer.

"These young people don't give a toss. We tried reasoning but you can't reason with them," she said.

The inquest was told rowdy games on the green were a regular nuisance - even provocation - to residents in Barricombe Drive.

Mr Smith would often remonstrate with the youths involved as balls struck cars and windows.

At 67, he just wanted to enjoy the home he had worked hard for. He was to die on its doorstep.

Police investigated the circumstances surrounding Mr Smith's death. The Crown Prosecution Service did not proceed with any charges.