POLICE are investigating the death of a restaurant manager who was found collapsed in a street.

Chanu Miah, 48, of Sunderland Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, collapsed while delivering a takeaway to a house in the town's Salmon Street on Monday night.

He was taken to South Tyneside District General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from a heart attack.

Police said inquiries found he had been in an altercation earlier and they are investigating if there is a link between that and his death.

The altercation, between Mr Miah and three youths, took place at 9.10pm in Ocean Road, near the Momotaj restaurant, which Mr Miah ran.

Three men, aged 18, 19 and 20 were yesterday arrested in connection with the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call 0191-454 7555