A takeaway delivery driver has died after being beaten by a gang of youths outside his work.

Simon San was working at the Yong Hua Garden takeaway on Wednesday evening when he was attacked.

Mr San had been sitting in his car on Lochend Avenue when a group of male and female youths approached. On witness described seeing them rock the car before Mr San got out.

The situation then escalated and Mr San was attacked by three members of the group. One male youth, believed to have been around 16 or 17-years-old, threw a punch which caused him to fall to the ground and strike his head.

Mr San’s sister, Shirley, said she was working in the takeaway when a drinker from the nearby Loch Inn pub came to fetch her.

When she went outside, she found her 40-year-old brother lying on the pavement as customers from the pub tried to put towels under his head.

Mr San was rushed to hospital and his family remained by his bedside overnight, however, he died of a suspected brain injury at around 8.30am on Thursday.

Police have now launched a murder inquiry and have issued an urgent appeal for information about the gang of youths, who are believed to be local to the area.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Blair said: "This was an unprovoked attack that has resulted in the tragic death of a man who was simply going about his daily business as normal.”

He added: "Anyone who was in the area of Lochend Avenue last night, who either witnessed the assault or noticed a group of youths close to the Loch Inn Pub, should contact police as a matter of urgency.

"Similarly, anyone who saw the youths making off from the scene in the moments after the assault should also get in touch."

The main suspect is described as being 5ft 10ins tall, with short black hair and a slim face. He was wearing a black fleece top.

Another of the group involved is described as male, 5ft 1ins to 5ft 2ins tall, with short blond hair. He was wearing grey jogging pants and a white polo shirt.

Trouble

The San family were originally from Vietnam but had been living in Edinburgh for 30 years. Ms San had owned the takeaway on the junction of Lochend Road South for 13 months.

However, she said the family’s time in the area had not been trouble free.

While she did not feel the family had been targeted individually, she said that stones had been thrown at the shop and groups of youths had been hanging around.

Local residents also spoke out on Thursday, saying youth disorder was a real problem in the area.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named said: "We don't know exactly what happened, but the area is all cordoned off. It's awful.

"People are saying that it might have been a gang of youths, which wouldn't surprise me. The neds around our place are horrendous.

"They scream and shout all the time so even if anything criminal was unfolding, no one would think it was any different to a typical night in Lochend."

Police have now launched an inquiry and are appealing for anyone who was in the area to get in touch as a matter of urgency.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.