A company director accused of murdering his wife has been found hanged in his cell, a Prison Service spokesman said.

Stephen Kirby, 57, was discovered with a ligature of torn bed sheets around his neck in his locked single cell at Nottingham Prison at 0830 GMT on Tuesday.

Officers attempted to resuscitate Mr Kirby and paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead by the prison doctor at 0900 GMT, the spokesman said.

Mr Kirby, of West Bridgford, Nottingham, was remanded in custody by the city's magistrates on 31 November last year.

He had been charged with murdering his wife, Alison, 47, whose body was found by paramedics at the couple's home three days earlier.

The police and coroner have been informed and an investigation will also be held by a senior manager from another prison, said the spokesman.