A 25-YEAR-OLD man from Burnley accused of burglary was found hanged in his prison cell.

Prison staff at Preston fought to revive Andrew Pounder, from Oxford Road, Burnley, when he was found by his cell mate on Saturday at 1.30am.

He was on remand after being charged in Burnley with burglary.

Prison bosses have now launched their own inquiry into the incident which follows the deaths of three other prisoners from East Lancashire, also on remand at Preston, in the last year. Preston coroner Howard McCann has also been informed and an inquest is due to be opened in the next few days.

Andrew's family refused to speak about his death today.

A prison spokesman said: "He was hanging by a ligature from cell window bars. Staff attempted to revive him but it was in vain and he was certified dead at 2.50am.

"A senior governor from another prison will be investigating the incident and the coroner and next of kin have been informed." Mr Pounder, a former pupil of Towneley High School, Burnley, last appeared before Burnley Magistrates on Thursday April 30.

Jason McVeagh, 27, of Cog Lane, Burnley, was found hanged in his cell in mid-March, six days after being remanded from Burnley Magistrates.

Last July, 22-year-old Steven Nuttall, from Brierfield, was found hanged in his cell a day after he was remanded by Burnley Magistrates.

In September former bus driver Alan Ratcliffe, 53, of Blackburn, who was on remand for attempted murder, was found hanged in his cell.

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