A post-mortem examination has shown “no obvious natural causes” for the death of David Hockney's personal assistant, police said.

Dominic Elliott died in hospital on Sunday morning after he was taken ill at the house of the artist in Bridlington on Saturday.

A Humberside Police spokesman said yesterday: “A post-mortem examination was carried out on the body of 23-year-old Dominic Elliott at Hull Royal Infirmary mortuary and it showed no obvious natural causes for his death.

“Further tests will now be carried out, the results of which will not be known for some weeks.”

Officers are continuing to investigate how Mr Elliott became ill before he was taken to Scarborough Hospital by a friend.

Keen sportsman Mr Elliott worked as a personal assistant to the 75-year-old Bradford-born artist, setting up equipment and helping in his studio.

Humberside Police said earlier this week the circumstances of his death were “not clear” but that there was no sign of violence.