A SHOCKED takeaway owner says a dad-of-two "died for nothing" following trouble outside his shop.

Kenneth Mills had intervened as trouble sparked outside the NightBar Pizza Kebab and Grill on Lee Lane, Horwich, on Friday night.

Today, shop owner Ali Khasi, 44, revealed that Mr Mills had intervened after seeing some youths tampering with the back of a bus.

Police chiefs have confirmed Mr Mills received a "slight" head injury but managed to drive the few yards home in Silverwell Street where he later collapsed.

Seven teenagers have been questioned by detectives following Mr Mills' death, although police chiefs say it is not being treated as a murder inquiry. Mr Khasi, who opened the takeaway 10 years ago, told how he shepherded Mr Mills into his shop following the fracas.

Mr Khasi said: "He was such a nice man, who was always laughing and joking. He was the kind of man who would step in if he saw something bad going on.

"I'm still in shock after what happened. I can't believe he has died. His wife came to the shop to tell me what had happened. I went round to his house and saw the ambulancemen trying to help him.

It was terrible. He died for nothing."

Mr Mills, 50, who ran two decorating shops, had called at the takeaway with some wallpaper for Mr Khasi.

Mr Khasi revealed that the Horwich town centre street has been a late-night trouble blackspot for weeks.

He said: "Shop windows have been smashed in past weeks and the kids are always knocking on shop windows or kicking footballs against doors."

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