THE parents of the tragic heroin victim Rachel Whitear have been promised answers about how their daughter died.

A new investigation into the death of will be supervised by the Police Complaints Authority. The announcement comes after the Evening News broke the news that there would be a new inquiry into Rachel's death.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary voluntarily asked the PCA, an independent body which scrutinises police forces, to supervise the inquiry which will be carried out by Wiltshire Constabulary.

"I will seek to ensure that Ms Whitear's parents get the answers they deserve," said Duncan Gear, the member of the PCA who will supervise the investigation.

Complained

"The inquiry will review the circumstances that led up to Miss Whitear's tragic death."

The inquiry was sparked after a member of Rachel's family complained the inquiry into her death was not carried out properly and disagreed with the open verdict recorded in the inquest.

After pictures of her body clutching a needle shocked the nation in May 2000, it was assumed she had died of a heroin overdose but a toxicology report revealed there was not enough heroin in her blood to kill her.

The 21-year-old student from Ledbury was found by the landlord of her Exmouth flat two days after she had died.

The Evening News reported earlier this week that Rachel's mother Pauline Holcroft was hoping for a review to clear up speculation over her death.

"I have never used the word murder, but there but there is the possibility she was not alone when she died," said Mrs Holcroft of Ledbury.