Soham murderer Ian Huntley was killed by a blunt head injury inflicted in a prison attack, an inquest has heard.

The 52-year-old was struck multiple times with a metal bar at HMP Frankland in Durham on 26 February and died nine days later at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The former school caretaker had been serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for murdering 10-year-old best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.

Opening an inquest into Huntley's death, County Durham and Darlington senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield said his further inquiry would be suspended pending criminal proceedings.

Anthony Russell, 43, has been charged with murdering Huntley and is next due to appear before Newcastle Crown Court on 24 April.

In documents read to the coroner, the short hearing in Crook, County Durham, was told Huntley was "struck over the head multiple times by another prisoner with an object described as a metal bar".

The attack left Huntley with "significant head injuries" from which he died on 7 March at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, the inquest heard.

Forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton carried out a post-mortem examination two days later and concluded the cause of death was "blunt head injury", the coroner heard.

The schoolgirls had gone missing after leaving a family barbecue in Soham in August 2002.

It is believed they were on their way to buy sweets when Huntley, then aged 28, lured them back to his home and killed them.

Their disappearance made national headlines and led to police appeals.

The girls' bodies were found in a ditch a fortnight after they went missing.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

Dr Richard Holliday says the information gathered will be used to inform future health guidance.

Durham thrash Gloucestershire by an innings and 225 runs inside three days in a one-sided County Championship Division Two match.

The North East Ambulance Service is researching best ways to support those who lose a loved one.

Kidney transplant patient Gemma Louis urges people to sign the donor transplant register.

How much do you remember about the stories making the headlines across the North East and Cumbria?