August 7, 2005 - A historic and usually serene village in Gloucestershire was struggling yesterday to come to terms with the violent death of a popular pub landlord mown down by a car of teenagers. Eyewitnesses told how grandfather Bob Todd was thrown high up in the air and left for dead by a vehicle which had swerved and hit him. Mr Todd, 56, a community stalwart who raised thousands of pounds for charity, selflessly intervened after a gang of teenagers apparently attacked a group of young people on the village recreation ground in Pucklechurch, on the edge of the Cotswolds. He attempted to stop the gang's car as they tried to flee the scene but was hit by the vehicle. Mr Todd, a married father of two grown up children, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 16-year-old girl, two men aged 18 and three 17-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder, grievous bodily harm and violent disorder. Surrounded by rolling green hills and farms, Pucklechurch is a beautiful Saxon village of foliage-fronted 17th- and 18th-century stone cottages centering on the St Thomas Becket Church, which is more than 700 years old. Residents yesterday expressed their disbelief that their peaceful country home had been hit by the latest in a string of violent crimes around Britain. Police believe trouble broke out shortly before 12.30am yesterday when teenagers from the Kingswood area nearby may have picked a fight with a group of young people on the recreation ground. One man in his twenties suffered a broken jaw and lost several teeth in the attack and is now recovering in hospital. According to witnesses, Mr Todd emerged from his pub, The Star Inn, which faces the recreation ground, and chased the gang. The teenagers piled into a blue Mazda 323 parked outside the village community centre and attempted to drive off, leading to the fatal collision. Amy Johnson-Eames, 16, who works in the village newsagents, claimed Mr Todd's sister and Kevin Flook, who lives in the village, had been attacked by members of the group. Now he is in hospital. 'Bob heard about this and asked them to move on. He then chased them down to the community centre. They got into the car and drove straight through him. He flew up into the air and cracked his head open.' Raj Birk, 16, who was being dropped off by a taxi near the community centre at the time, said: 'I was chatting to the taxi driver when I saw these lights in the mirror. I could see this car speeding up and Bob was standing in the road. I slammed the taxi door shut and the car that ran over Bob sped past us. The recreation ground was sealed off as forensic officers carried out a detailed examination. Superintendent Andy Francis of Avon and Somerset police said: 'This was a tragic incident that took away the life of a man who was extremely well-known and respected in the village.' Mr Todd is thought to have two grown-up children, Jamie and Hayley, and several grandchildren. His tearful wife Diane closed the pub as a mark of respect to her husband. Employees were also seen leaving the pub, many of whom were in tears. Outside the pub, villagers had laid bouquets. One message read: 'The heart of our village has been tragically taken.' Another read: 'Bob - RIP. The 'star' of Pucklechurch has been taken.' Why?' A TEENAGER has admitted to mowing down and killing popular pub landlord Bob Todd. Alexander Dix, aged 19, of Chipperfield Drive, Kingswood pleaded guilty to Mr Todd's manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court this week. Dix had been due to face trial for the murder of the Star Inn landlord after his solicitor previously indicated he would enter a not guilty plea. However, at the last minute on Monday, Dix admitted mowing 56-year-old Mr Todd down in August last year. He also admitted violent disorder. Father-of-two Mr Todd was hit by a car after trying to stop a fight outside his pub in the village last year. Dix, dressed in a dark suit, spoke only to confirm his name and to plead guilty to manslaughter during the hearing on Monday. The original charge of murder was reduced to manslaughter on the 'basis of gross negligence.' The teenager sat with his head hung as the court heard how on Saturday, August 6, Mr Todd, a father of two, had gone to break up a fracas on the village green. The court was told a gang of teenagers had launched an unprovoked attack on a group of local youngsters who had been sitting on the green that evening. Mr Todd had been trying to stop the car, driven by Dix, from leaving Pucklechurch Community Centre when he was hit. Christopher Wilson-Smith, prosecuting, told the court that Dix, who does not have a driving licence, deliberately drove at the landlord after he intervened in the incident. Mr Wilson-Smith said that in an interview with police Dix said that he had panicked and thought the landlord would jump out of the way. Mr Wilson-Smith added: 'We accept his plea on a basis of gross negligence manslaughter. 'There was an obvious risk and appreciation of such risk coupled with a determination nevertheless to run it.' Timothy Mousley, defending, said it Dix accepted his driving was both dangerous and reckless. 'As a result of that he caused the death of Mr Todd,' said Mr Mousley. Dix was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in six weeks pending psychiatric and pre-sentence reports. Three other men, Aaron Burton,18, of Pinewood, Kingswood; Jacob Renwick, 18, of no fixed address; Jeremy Musgrover,18, of Hillfields Avenue, Fishponds, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons have all pleaded guilty to violent disorder that night. They will be sentenced on the same day as Dix. The three men were remanded in custody on Monday and the youth was given bail on condition he lives in Birmingham, follows a curfew order, reports to police and does not visit Bristol except for legal proceedings. Mr Todd's death devastated the village of Pucklechurch. More than 1,000 people lined the streets of the village to show their respects during his funeral. He was described as a local 'legend' and annually organised the Pucklechurch Revel. He was also actively involved with fundraising for a new church clock, a play area for the village primary school and storage facilities for the local cricket and football club. Death of Pucklechurch pub landlord