AN inquest has opened into the death of another inmate in the women's section of a North-East prison.

Wendy Booth was found hanged in her cell in the women's centre at Durham Prison, late on November 12.

She was confirmed dead at the University Hospital of North Durham, despite attempts at resuscitation.

The inquest was opened by North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle, at County Hall in Durham, but he adjourned after a brief hearing to allow a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Booth, 35, was convicted at Leeds Crown Court in December 2001 of murdering a former partner in a bedsit she shared in Harehills, Leeds.

She denied the charge and lost an appeal against the conviction, but claimed her innocence until her death.

Booth gave evidence at the inquest into the death of a fellow inmate in a neighbouring cell in the prison women's centre earlier this year.

Governor Mike Newell said he could not speculate on whether that death had affected Booth's state of mind or say if she was placed on suicide watch in recent weeks.

Her death was the eighth such incident at the prison since the start of last year, the fifth in the women's centre.