A 42-year-old man from Black Horse Drove, near Littleport, was found dead in his prison cell.

Stuart Baumber was found unresponsive in his cell by staff at HMP Peterborough at about 4.20am. It is understood that he took his own life.

Baumber had been on remand at the prison since November 5 following a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court.

The 42-year-old had been arrested and charged with arson, reckless as to whether life was endangered, following an incident in the hamlet on October 28.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “HMP Peterborough prisoner Stuart Baumber was found unresponsive in his cell at 4.20am on Friday, November 15.

“Prison staff attempted CPR and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at 4.47am.

“As with all deaths in custody, the Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”

The last report into the death of a prisoner at Peterborough was published by the ombudsmen in January 2012 and concerned a 63-year-old man who suffered a heart attack.

A spokesman for Sodexo, the company which runs the prison, said: “Mr Baumber’s family were informed of his death on Friday morning. Deaths in custody are a tragedy for family and friends, and also have a profound effect on staff and other prisoners.”

Mr Baumber was a member of the Ely Runners sports club and ran Achilles Design, an engineering design company, from his home in Black Horse Drove.

On the website, Mr Baumber noted that he liked to “spend his spare time doing long-distance running, being creative with art and photography in Norfolk and enjoying the family”.