POLICE in Manchester are investigating the events leading up to the deaths of two inmates at the city's prison -- formerly known as Strangeways.

Shaun Hazelhurst, aged 28, and 32-year-old Patrick Kilty, were found hanged on Saturday morning in the cell they shared.

The men, both from Yorkshire, had been convicted of robbery and Hazelhurst was a week into a four-year sentence.

Greater Manchester Police are treating the deaths as suspicious. They were found hanging from ligatures at around 7am.

Kilty was serving a life term and had been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court in December last year, while Hazelhurst had been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on August 27. The incident brought the number of deaths by hanging at the jail to five in the last 12 months.

The men's relatives have been informed and post-mortem examinations are due to be carried out shortly.

An investigation will be conducted by Prison Ombudsman Stephen Shaw, as in all cases of death in custody.