Four men accused of brawling outside a kebab shop in the centre of Pembroke Dock have been cleared by a jury at Swansea Crown Court today.

The prosecution had claimed that the men, who were all connected with the kebab shop, had lost their temper when members of a group making their way home thumped on the shop door and demanded food.

Volkan Yursel, 20, and Cengiz Imanli, 31, both of Bush Street, and Melmet Goren, 22, of Ilford in London and Devris Eren, 25, from Heanor in Derbyshire, had denied a charge of affray.

They told the jury at that they were the victims of attack after someone broke the shop window and they went to investigate.

The trial, which began earlier this month, started with testimony from David Wayne Carter, whose son Lee, 23, was jailed in February at the same court for the murder of Dean Evans, aged 25.

Mr Carter senior said he found it so difficult to attend court, a witness summons had had to be issued to get him there. He also said that he had not wanted to give evidence against the defendants.

He said that on the night of the incident he had drunk about nine pints and had been walking along Bush Street among a group.

He said three men emerged from the kebab shop "saying something about people kicking".

Mr Carter said he had been on the other side of the road and he did not believe any of his group was responsible.

He described how one of the men poked him in the chest and, thinking he was about to be hit, he "took a punch and may have connected." He was then knocked out and was told later he had been kicked while on the floor.

Mr Carter said he accepted he deserved to be knocked out because he had "taken the first swing".

Cross examined by defence barristers, Mr Carter was accused of having a short fuse after drinking. He replied that he had a short fuse with or without drink.

But, he added, "I would not hurt a fly. You can ask anyone in Pembrokeshire."

He denied hearing racist remarks addressed towards the four men or knowing about a window being broken. As he left the witness stand he approached the dock and said to the four defendants, "I'm sorry. No grudges."

The jury took only an hour before returning unanimous verdict of not guilty.