A MAN found collapsed on his bedroom floor last New Year's Eve died of a heroin overdose, an inquest heard.

The family of Andrew David Ward, of Auckland Terrace, Darlington, had thought he was free of the drug.

But Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Cooper told the inquest, at Darlington Magistrates' Court, that the level of morphine found in his blood was in the range which could cause death.

Mr Ward's sister, Hilary, told how her brother had been a heroin user, but had stopped long before he returned to live with her.

She said he not been feeling well for a couple of days and had gone back to bed on the afternoon of December 31.

She found him lying on the floor at about 5pm and called an ambulance when she could not feel a pulse.

Detective Sergeant Harold Jones said two wraps of heroin and other items used for taking the drug were found in the bedroom.

Coroner Colin Penna, recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. He said it seemed that Mr Ward had been off the drug for some time, then started using it again.