TWO men are being held in police custody after a prisoner was killed at Long Lartin prison.

Subhan Anwar, who was jailed in 2009 for torturing and murdering a two-year-old girl, has been killed in Long Lartin prison, near Evesham, the Ministry of Justice said.

Anwar, who was jailed for a minimum of 23 years in 2009 for the murder of Sanam Navsarka, is understood to have been held hostage in a cell before he was killed.

His partner Zahbeena Navsarka was cleared of her daughter's murder but found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for nine years.

A prison service spokeswoman said: "An incident at HMP Long Lartin on Thursday February 14 resulted in the death of prisoner Subhan Anwar.

"Two prisoners are now in police custody and the matter is being investigated by police."

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "West Mercia Police has launched a murder investigation after a 24-year-old man died in Long Lartin prison last night. The body of the man was found by prison officers just before 8pm on Thursday, February 14.

"Two men aged 47 and 45 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody. West Mercia Police is working closely with the Ministry of Justice to establish the exact circumstances surrounding this man's death but it is unlikely any further comment will be made today."