A NORTH-East prisoner has died in hospital after he was found hanged in his cell.

Andrew McPherson, 24, was discovered by staff at Holme House Prison, Stockton, on March 6.

He was on a life support machine at Bishop Auckland Hospital, County Durham, but died on Wednesday afternoon after it was switched off.

Mr McPherson, from Airdrie, Scotland, had been remanded on suspicion of burglary, criminal damage and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.

Prison spokesman Tim Brittain said yesterday: "It is a tragic event which has affected staff here very deeply. Our full sympathies go to his family."

The last suspected suicide attempt at the prison was in April 2000.