The mother of Rachel Whitear whose death was used in a national anti-drugs campaign said it was no surprise her death could be heroin related, but that her daughter had seemed "very positive" the night before her death.

But Pauline Holcroft, of Ledbury, said she was interested to know for sure how the death of her 21-year-old daughter Rachel Whitear came about.

The body of Rachel, holding a needle, was discovered in her bedsit in Exmouth, Devon, in May, 2000.

Images of her body were later released by her mother and stepfather, Pauline and Mick Holcroft, for use in an anti-drugs video for secondary schools.

Yesterday, Torbay and South Devon coroner Ian Arrow said at a preliminary hearing in Exeter that a second inquest, with a jury, would be held in the city on September 10.

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Holcroft, 57, and her 58-year-old husband said they were not saying Miss Whitear was incapable of injecting.

But the timing seemed strange, as she had been in her flat for one day, and the night before had seemed "very positive."

The original inquest in December 2000 recorded an open verdict, leaving the cause of death "unascertained".

There had been no post mortem examination.

Mrs Holcroft said they went to the building where Rachel had died for the first time on Monday.

"Until there is an end to this sad saga I do not think we can move on," she said.