A coroner has confirmed that there is "no criminal involvement" linked to the drug-related death of a woman in hospital, an inquest has heard. 

Andrea Howson, 37, died at the University Hospital of North Tees on February 4 last year after taking a 'deadly' cocktail of drugs that claimed her life. 

An inquest, held at Teesside Coroner's Court on Tuesday (April 9), heard that Miss Howson, from Billingham, had traces of two kinds of drugs in her system - morphine and diazepam. 

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Following Miss Howson's death, assistant Teesside and Hartlepool coroner Karin Welsh said that an investigation had been launched by Cleveland Police - but there was "nothing to suggest any criminal involvement" linked to the 37-year-old's death. 

Assistant coroner Walsh also told the inquest that other people who had been present before Miss Howson's death had been unclear on the chronology of events - meaning there couldn't be any clear timeline into the death. 

Concluding the inquest, assistant coroner Walsh recorded Miss Howson's death as drug-related and paid her condolences to her family, who had attended, telling them: "It's not an easy conclusion to draw from her death - but hopefully it brings you comfort."