A GRIEVING mother today said she was planning legal action against prison bosses and demanded to know how her son was allowed to hang himself in his cell.

Home Office investigations were today continuing into the death of Mark Cooper, 27, of Hancock Street, Blackburn, who was found hanging by his clothing from a cell window at Preston Prison at about 6am on Monday, August 13.

His family said they have been told they must now wait five more weeks before an exact time of death can be given and for further investigations to continue into the cause of his death.

An inquest was opened on August 14 but no date has yet been given for the full hearing, although the family said they have no doubt he took his own life.

Mark's death is the latest in a series of suicides at the jail, including several involving people from East Lancashire, which have prompted calls for an inquiry into the way prisoners are dealt with.

Mark had been on remand in the prison for three days before his death and was due to have appeared at Blackburn Magistrates charged with shoplifting on the day he died.

Today his mum, Shirley, and two sisters, Janet, and Sharon, said he had previously fallen out with the man who he was made to share a cell with and asked why the family were kept waiting for three days before being allowed to officially identify his body.

Detective Inspector Pat Gill from Preston CID confirmed Mark had shared a cell with another man up until Sunday night, when the pair were split up but he was not aware there had been any animosity between the two.

His family has also demanded to know why nobody witnessed the incident on CCTV footage from the camera they claim was in the cell. The Home Office today refuse to confirm whether there was a camera, due to 'ongoing investigations'.

Mark, who also has a brother, Jason, and four children, Keelie, seven, Jodie, four, Dion, three, and Shannon, two, was cremated yesterday at Pleasington following a service at the Ragged School, in Bent Street, Blackburn.

The service included smash hit song 'It's a Beautiful Day' by U2 and 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zepplin.

Janet said: "It's the whole waiting game that's getting everybody down. We were left wondering for three days after they told us that Mark was dead whether it actually was him or not. It's been absolute murder these last few days.

"Mark was a bit of a Jack the lad but he was such a loveable rogue. He had a heart of gold. He would never have even considered anything like this. He had been in prison before and always came out laughing. He knew the system and how to deal with it, which meant he would do his time and come home.

"We want to know why these two men were allowed to share a cell together. It was like leaving two pit bulls in a ring together.

"It is really worrying the number of people who have committed suicide in that prison and it's so worrying because nobody is taking the slightest bit of notice.

"The people in there just aren't doing enough and soon it's going to be somebody else's child and it will keep being like that until something is done about it.

"Why do prisoners feel they have to take their own lives? Where is the help and support they need? They need to keep a closer eye on things.

Mark's mum said: "I'm seeking help from a solicitor to get to the bottom of this. I want justice and want to know why this happened and for those responsible to be made to pay.

"Mark had had his problems over the last year after breaking up with his girlfriend but nothing that dramatic to make him do something like this. He worshipped his children and they meant the world to him. He was so proud of them all. He just wouldn't have done it. Something went on in that cell and I won't let this be brushed under the carpet.

A spokesman for the Home Office prison service said they were not prepared to comment until further investigations had been carried out but said: "Prison officers keep a close watch on all the people that are in the prison.

"In addition to the coroner's inquest we will be carrying out our own investigations which will be conducted by a senior investigator."