A 40-year-old woman, from Weston-Super-Mare, had a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol in her system when she was found dead in her flat, an inquest has heard.

A post mortem had proved inconclusive but after a toxicology report was carried out, it showed that Rachel Mitchell, of Lonsdale Avenue, had two and a half times the recommended dose of methadone in her body when she died in October 2008.

It also showed that she had morphine, codeine, and ethanol alcohol in her blood stream.

Avon Coroner’s court heard that Miss Mitchell, who had a long term drug and alcohol addiction, was found by neighbours just before midnight on Tuesday, October 7.

The mother-of-two had not been seen for a couple of days, and her neighbours Dee England and Terry Chambers had gone to the flat, where they made the discovery.

In a statement read out in court, Ms England said Rachel had been suffering from back pain after she fell down some stairs.

She also added that she knew Miss Mitchell smoked cannabis, and that her children had been taken in to care.

Ms England discovered Miss Mitchell’s body next to the sofa when she entered the living room.

The court heard how she immediately called the police, and an investigation was launched.

PC Michelle Hewitt-Hunt was first on the scene, and went into the flat after being told by the neighbours that they believed Miss Mitchell was dead.

Giving evidence, PC Hewitt-Hunt told the court that she had seen a cut and blood above Miss Mitchell’s left eye and that a black handled kitchen knife was found underneath her body.

She also said the flat was very messy with lots of capped and uncapped needles everywhere.

It was also revealed that Miss Mitchell had contracted Hepatitis C.

Miss Mitchell’s ex-partner of two years, Neil Farr said in a  statement that the couple had split up two weeks before she had died and he had only seen her once - while he was walking his dog - and she had ignored him.

Deputy Avon Coroner Brian Whitehouse said that he believed on the balance of probability Miss Mitchell would still be alive was it not for her dependency in drugs.

The family of Miss Mitchell questioned where she could have sustained the facial injuries.

Mr Whitehouse said he understood the family’s concern over the facial injuries, but added: “It is clear from the toxicology report that neither the fall that Rachel had or the facial injuries were a contributing factor in her death.”

Mr Whitehouse recorded a verdict of death by a dependency on drugs.