AN investigation has been launched into the death of Greater Manchester serial killer doctor Harold Shipman in his Wakefield Prison cell.

The government announced that prison ombudsman Stephen Shaw would head an inquiry, hours after the 57-year-old was found hanging by his bedclothes.

Shipman, who would have been 58 on Wednesday, was jailed for life at Preston Crown Court in January 2000 for murdering 15 patients while a GP in Hyde.

An inquiry found he killed at least 215 people in Hyde and Todmorden, West Yorkshire, over a 23-year period.

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The full statement from the Prison Service read: "We can confirm the death of Harold Shipman at HMP Wakefield this morning.

"Mr Shipman was found hanging in his cell at 6.20am and despite the best efforts of staff who immediately attempted resuscitation he was pronounced dead by a doctor at 8.10am.

"Since arriving at Wakefield on June 18 2003, Shipman had never been on a suicide watch and was on normal location and following a normal regime. "The family have been informed and the Prison Service will be conducting an investigation into the death as we do with all deaths in custody. The coroner has been informed."

Last month it emerged that the serial killer had been stripped of his privileges at Wakefield because of poor behaviour.

The former GP had his prisoner status reduced from "enhanced" to "basic'' for general non-compliance with staff, a prison source said.

The television in his cell was removed and he had to wear prison uniform instead of casual clothes.

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