A 61-YEAR-OLD man has died following a fight in Norwich.Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the violent argument involving two men in Bowthorpe Road, at about 6.15pm.

A MAJOR police investigation was under way today after a 61-year-old died following a brawl in the street.

Well-known greengrocer Roy Wymer was pronounced dead on arrival at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after the fight on Bowthorpe Road, Norwich, last night.

Details surrounding the exact circumstances of his death have not yet been released by Norfolk police, however the force has described the incident as “a violent argument”.

A post mortem was due to be held today to discover the cause of death. Meanwhile, Norfolk police have launched an appeal for witnesses.

Mr Wymer, of Beverley Road, was well-known in the Earlham area where he delivered fruit and veg.

Michael Wymer, 71, from St Mildreds Road, the victim's brother said: “I'm just so shocked by it all - we'd only been to watch Norwich City play at Sheffield together on Saturday.

“Roy was the family tribal chieftain - he was much respected, he settled family disputes and was so well thought of on the estate. He'd been doing his job for many years - the business had been passed down the family.”

Mr Wymer was a father-of-two and also has two grandchildren.

His sister-in-law May Wymer, 78, from Gawdy Road, who is married to Gordon, one of the victim's three brothers, said today: “I'm still in shock, I only heard last night what had happened - that there had been a confrontation. I can't believe it. He was a quite a jovial man - everyone could get on with him.”

As a result of the incident Bowthorpe Road was today closed between Earlham Green Lane and the outer ring road at Guardian Road.

Today, Leon Herman, 33, from Bowthorpe Road, said he saw the fight take place.

He said he saw a younger man punch Mr Wymer as two men on mopeds stopped to try to help the older man. The victim was walking with his two poodle dogs. The two then fell to the floor in a scuffle and one of the passers-by tried to intervene as the younger man again tried to punch the older before the attacker walked off.

The police then arrived and the older man slumped against the car door before he collapsed onto the ground and paramedics tried to revive him.

People living in the area told of their shock at the incident.

Gwen Maka, 59, who lives on Bowthorpe Road, said: “We saw the police cars and the flashing lights and saw them trying to resuscitate somebody.”

Trevor Webb, 58, who also lives on Bowthorpe Road, said: “The police knocked on my door. They said there had been an assault with someone and another man.”

Another woman in her 30s, who did not want to be named, and who lives on Bowthorpe Road, said: “It's awful really because he was an old man. He's really well known around here.”

A Norfolk police spokesman said: “A 36-year-old man has been arrested in relation to this incident and is currently in police custody.”