A prisoner who had been on remand for over a year in the notorious Belmarsh Prison where Jeffrey Archer is serving a four year sentence, hanged himself by a shoe lace in his cell toilet.

Registered disabled, John Shutt, 52, of Kelsey House, Front Street, Kelloe, Durham, was facing a trial for drug offences when he was found hanged on September 2 last year, Southwark Coroners Court in south London was told.

An application for bail failed the day before his death, on behalf of Shutt who had been held in custody for almost 18 months.

Pathologist Dr Ian Hill gave the cause of death as hanging saying there was no sign of a struggle.

Prisoner Bruce Knowles said they had been playing cards outside the cell on September 2 and Shutt had gone inside.

"He said he was going to the toilet but I found him suspended in the toilet from an air vent hanging by a trainer lace, feet off the floor."

Prison Governor Nicholas Leader said there was an investigation by the Metropolitan police and the prison service. As a result of the death a redesign of the cells - involving removing grills is due to be implemented later this year.

Following the video the jury returned a suicide verdict.

Updated : 17:10, Thursday 9th Aug.