THREATS and intimidation have followed the arrest of 19 youths after a man died at Erith Leisure Centre.

The death of pensioner Ernest Norton, aged 67, from Erith, is now being treated as murder, after it was revealed he was hit on the head by a large stone, thrown by one of a gang of youths congregating at the centre in Avenue Road, Erith, on February 26.

Mr Norton was playing on the outdoor tennis court at the centre with his son,17, when they were pelted with stones by a large group of youths who had earlier been thrown out of the building for their disruptive behaviour.

It is believed Mr Norton, who was married with two children, may have chased the youths after being hit, but he collapsed from heart failure and despite efforts by paramedics to save him, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thirteen youths were arrested in the area shortly afterwards. Three more were arrested on February 28, two last Wednesday and a another youth was arrested last Thursday. All have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The youths come from a variety of schools across the borough, including Erith School, also in Avenue Road.

Its headteacher Toby Hufford who has taken a tough line against gang behaviour in Erith, sent a strongly-worded letter to parents following the incident.

In the letter Mr Hufford said revenge attacks had been threatened on pupils at his school; intimidating gangs had gathered outside some families' homes and rumours of arranged fights had been circulating.

He said even younger brothers and sisters in local primary schools had been threatened and intimidated "by local youths who think they have the right to take revenge on family members of those who may or may not have been there at the time of Mr Norton's death."

He added: "No hotheads have the right to take the law into their own hands and dish out punishment to suspects.

"Anyone found intimidating or threatening a member of our school community with violence will not only be dealt with severely by the school, they will also be interfering with possible witnesses in a police murder investigation."

Police were at the centre again on Sunday, handing out leaflets and appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call the specialist crimes directorate on 020 8721 4868 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.