A man who was on remand accused of murdering a teenage girl has been found dead in his prison cell, police said today.

Prison officers discovered the body of Andrew Maguire at Durham Prison on Thursday afternoon.

His death is not being treated as suspicious, a police spokesman confirmed.

Maguire had appeared at Hexham Magistrates' Court on Monday accused of killing 19-year-old Vicki Reay.

JPs remanded the 34-year-old, of Priestland Crescent, Hexham, Northumberland, to appear before Newcastle Crown Court next week.

The teenager was found dead in the bedroom of her home, also in Priestland Crescent, on Sunday night.

A post mortem examination showed the former bank worker had been strangled.

A Durham Police spokesman said today: ''The body of Andrew Maguire was discovered at 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.

''At this stage there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.''

He said a post mortem examination is due to be conducted by a Home Office pathologist at Durham's University Hospital tomorrow morning. The County Durham Coroner, Andrew Tweedle, has been informed.