Prison officers have discovered two inmates hanging in cells at nearby jails in Durham.

The bodies of a 32-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were found within hours of each other at Durham and Frankland Prisons on Wednesday evening.

Durham Police said ligatures made from torn bedding were found in both cases, but said the two incidents were not being linked.

Post-mortem examinations are due to be carried out on the bodies on Friday.

Police named the dead woman as Beverley Fowler, who was serving a sentence for drug importation at Durham Prison.

The dead man, from southern England, was serving a seven-and-a-half year sentence for attempted robbery.

Police said he will not be named until relatives are informed.