It is believed Mr Owen had been good friends with one of the 20 young people who are suspected to have killed themselves in Bridgend, south Wales, since the beginning of last year.

South Wales Police had previously said the earlier deaths do not appear to be linked.

Officers said that Mr Owen was from the Bettws area of the county, and residents said he lived in a flat above the Oddfellows pub in the village.

A 19-year-old man from the village, Sean Rees, of Heol Glannant, was found hanging in woodlands in April after he had been out socialising with friends.

Bettws councillor Christopher Michaelides said: "He was friends with the one who died before. I think he was upset by the suicide. He was a lad from a very good family."

The councillor said he understood the man had been found dead in the Aberkenfig area of Bridgend County. "It seems the idea has been planted in lots of young people's minds and we've got to be careful how we handle this," he said. "There are lots of rumours flying around, but we will have to wait until the coroner's verdict on these cases."

Inspector Marion Stevenson, of South Wales Police, said: "The death is not being treated as suspicious. HM Coroner has been informed." She added: "South Wales Police now ask that the media respect the privacy of the family and that no attempt be made to contact them."

She would not confirm when the latest death was discovered or whether it was being treated as a suicide.

A group of young people from the county travelled to London earlier this week to challenge media coverage of the death. Members of the Bridgend Youth Council said articles about the suspected suicide were unfair and urged national newspaper reporters to attend their next meeting to get a more balanced view of the region.