An investigation has been launched into the Christmas Day death in prison of a 27-year-old man from Birstall.

Convicted arsonist Anthony Wayne Rowan was found hanged in his cell in Norwich Prison at 2.40am on Tuesday.

He had been serving a life sentence after being convicted at Bradford Crown Court in February, 1998, of causing more than £15,000 worth of fire damage to his home in Birstall.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "Mr Rowan was recognised as being at possible risk of suicide or self-harm, and was in a single cell.

"Attempts were made to resuscitate him but they were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 3.20am.

"Every time we have a death in custody we carry out a full- scale investigation into its causes, and that has begun in this case."

Mr Rowan had served an earlier, three-year sentence for arson with intent to endanger life in 1993.

At his 1998 trial his barrister, Anthony Granville-Fall, said his client had developed a long-standing habit of sniffing and drinking petrol.

He said Mr Rowan's final act of arson, setting fire to his own bedroom in August, 1997, had been a failed attempt to kill himself.