A prisoner on remand at Lewes jail has been found hanged in his cell, the latest in a increasing number of deaths at the prison.

The body of Spanish national Jose Ramon Ecpineira-Villar, 43, was discovered hanging in a noose made from a bedsheet.

His death is being treated as suicide and officers say there are no suspicious circumstances.

The governor of HMP Blantyre House in Kent has been appointed to oversee a full investigation.

A report by the Board of Prison Visitors published in March highlighted the alarming high suicide rate at Lewes, labelling conditions in parts of the prison "appalling" and "inhumane".

Since governor Paul Carroll took over 16 months ago, there have been four suicides and six attempted suicides.

Mr Ecpineira-Villar would be the fifth if a coroner finds he took his own life in an inquest due to be formally opened this week.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "The latest suicide is very unwelcome for the family of the de-ceased and those who work in the prison.

"I know the governor has taken steps to identify prisoners at risk and hence reduce the likelihood of suicides.

"Clearly, there needs to be reflection on this incident to see whether there is anything further that can be done."

Mr Ecpineira-Villar was on remand at the prison before standing trial at Lewes Crown Court over an allegation of rape in Eastbourne in May. His body was found at 11.30pm on Tuesday.

Deputy governor John Wilson said: "The governor and the whole team at Lewes prison are very saddened by this incident."

The prison has responded to the spate of suicides by introducing a suicide prevention coordinator, substance misuse nurse and first-night centre.

But watchdogs have warned the conditions are so bad they could be driving inmates to take their own lives.

They have been campaigning for the bars over cell windows to be replaced, saying they are obvious ligature points for makeshift gallows.

There were three suicides in 2001 and one in 2000.

In January last year, Home Secretary David Blunkett was called on by a coroner to investigate how prisoners on suicide watch were cared for, following the death in custody of serial sex attacker Rashid Kausmally, 48, of Bear Road, Brighton, while on remand.

At the time, Mr Wilson said procedures had been reviewed and changes made in light of his case.

In the Board of Prison Visitors most recent report conditions were described as "Dickensian".

The group sent a series of demands for action to the Secretary of State, demanding closure of the segregation unit and stamping out drug trafficking.

Random tests revealed up to 40 per cent of inmates at Lewes had taken drugs, compared with an average of 14.5 per cent.