An inquest into the death of a surgeon who died in a Syrian prison has been opened and adjourned.

Syrian authorities believe Dr Abbas Khan hanged himself in his prison cell.

Dr Khan died days before he was due to be released, and his family believe he was murdered by the Syrian regime.

A Syrian coroner who examined him found no signs of violence. No cause of death has been released following a post mortem conducted in the UK.

An inquest into the death of the surgeon, from Streatham, who had worked for Epsom and St Helier hospital trust, was opened at Walthamstow Coroners Court today.

Dr Khan was arrested by Syrian authorities after he entered the country without a visa to help treat civilians who had been injured in the conflict.

He was arrested in Syria 48 hours after arriving in the country to work in a field hospital in a rebel-controlled area in November last year.

He later told his family his work treating civilians had been "classed as an act of terrorism" by authorities.