The cause of death of the disgraced publicist Max Clifford has still to be established, an inquest in Huntingdon has heard.

Mr Clifford, 74, who was serving a sentence at Littlehey prison for sex offences, died at Hinchingbrooke Hospital on December 10 after being taken ill at the jail.

He was identified through his hospital wristband.

Coroner David Heming said: “The medical cause of death is not yet confirmed as the consultant pathologist who carried out the post mortem examination is undertaking histological examination.

“As the deceased was a prisoner at HMP Littlehey at the time of his death there is a requirement for the Prison and Probation Ombudsman to conduct an investigation.”

He said further tests would be carried out and that the inquest would be resumed a hearing in Huntingdon on June 7 next year.

Mr Heming said: “I would like to express my condolences to the daughter of the deceased.”

Mr Clifford, who had represented top stars like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and the Beatles as well as masterminding tabloid newspaper stories, had been jailed for eight years in 2014 after being convicted of a number of sex assaults on women following Operation Yewtree, set up as a result of the Jimmy Savile Allegations.

He had been expected to appeal against the convictions next year.