THE mother of the Herefordshire girl found dead clutching a heroin needle has spoken out following the news that a second inquest is to be opened into the death of her daughter.

Two High Court judges last week gave the go-ahead for a new inquest into Rachel Whitear's death after a campaign led by Wiltshire Police following their investigation of colleagues in Devon and Cornwall.

Ms Whitear, a former Aylestone High School student, died in a Devon bedsit in May, 2000.

A coroner initially returned an open verdict seven months after Ms Whitear died.

Ms Whitear's mother and step-father, Pauline and Mick Holcroft, who live in Ledbury, said they were heartened by news of a new inquest and felt it was a fair and just result for their daughter.

"We have always supported Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett in his call for the second inquest," said Mrs Holcroft.

"We hope this inquest will be the end of the situation and we can let Rachel lie in peace."

Mr Holcroft added: "Whatever the outcome of this new inquest, all we want is for her to have a fair crack of the whip and the truth."

Images of Ms Whitear's dead body clutching a needle, which were first published by the Hereford Times, soon spread across the world and were used in a graphic anti-drugs campaign.