The family of two black men who were found hanged is campaigning for a police investigation into racist harassment against the pair.

Harold McGowan had been subjected to a campaign of harassment by far-right extremists before he died, the family says.

And his nephew Jason, who was investigating the death, received a warning against probing the case before he, too, died.

But detectives say there is no evidence of anyone else being involved in the men's deaths.

The McGowan family say racism played a part in their deaths and want police to investigate further.

Harold McGowan, 32 - also known as Errol - and Jason McGowan, 20, of Telford, Shropshire, were found hanged within six months of one another.

The family's solicitor, Errol Robinson, says that doorman Harold had been warned he was on a "death list" of extreme right-wing group Combat 18 after becoming a target for racists for apparently stopping a barred person entering a pub.

Two-year campaign

He had been attacked on at least two occasions and endured a two-year campaign of harassment before he was found dead in a friend's home, which he was minding while the friend was away, said Mr Robinson.

A small racist group had intimidated him as they repeatedly drove past the pub where he worked.

The solicitor said the doorman had been told by an acquaintance about the threat hanging over him.

Six months later, on New Year's Day, Jason - who had recently been married - was found hanged outside a leisure centre after starting to investigate the death.

Warning given

Hours before his body was found, Jason, a newspaper production worker, had been celebrating with his wife and friends at a pub in the countdown to the new millennium.

In the weeks leading up to Jason's death, a member of the family received an anonymous telephone call, warning them to stop investigating the uncle's death.

Relative Clifton McGowan said they knew the men well enough to say they would not have taken their own lives.

Mr Robinson stopped short of saying the two men were killed by racists but added: "Whether some third party was involved cannot be discounted."

West Mercia police said that despite "exhaustive inquiries" into Harold's death there was no evidence of a link with anyone else.

A spokesman said investigations were continuing into his nephew's death, but there was also no evidence that anyone else was involved.

Leading human rights barrister Michael Mansfield QC has agreed to act for the family at an inquest next month.