Disgraced former celebrity publicist Max Clifford has died. The BBC has reported that he collapsed in prison in his cell at Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire..

He was taken to hospital last week.

He was 74 and was serving an eight-year sentence for historical sex offences.

Clifford famously worked on a publicity campaign to get Freddie Starr back in the public eye when he was doing national tour. He came up with a story about the outrageous comedian making a rodent sandwich after a gig, which resulted in the Sun's legendary headline "Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster". 

The Ministry of Justice issued a statement: "As with all deaths in custody, there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman."

A spokeswoman said: "Our condolences are with Mr Clifford's family at this difficult time."