A YOUNG woman who died when her car went out of control and veered into the central reservation, hitting an oncoming car head-on, was under the influence of heroin substitute methadone.

Alison Dawson had been driving without a licence and insurance when she swerved off the road and hit another car on November 21, last year, an inquest heard.

The 25-year-old died instantly from multiple injuries after the collision on the A689, near Wynyard Village, Billingham, near Stockton.

The driver in the other car, Shelly Oxenham, was cut free from the wreckage with injuries.

The Middlesbrough inquest heard how Miss Dawson, from Seventh Avenue, Chester-le-Street, had been on prescribed methadone to treat a drug addiction.

Pathologist Dr Jan Lowe said a post-mortem examination showed that she had 1.2 milligrammes per litre in her system -a significant amount -when she died.

He said: "It is an opiate-type drug used to assist individuals in their wish to withdraw from illicit street drugs, specifically heroin.

"It is a legal drug, but the effects of methadone on the individual are similar to other opiate drugs.

"In this instance, a significant dose of methadone had been consumed within a short time of death, and it is sufficient to have affected the ability of Alison to drive complicated machinery."

Ms Oxenham, of Charles Row, Middridge, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said she had been driving her Peugeot 206 at about 10.40am westbound on the A689 when she pulled out to overtake a lorry.

She then saw the Renault Megane car, driven by Miss Dawson, swerve across the road, through the central reservation and hit her car head-on.

She suffered injuries to her arms, legs, and ankle.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield said: "It is a sad story of how Alison Dawson lost her life at a young age.

"It is clear that she was taking methadone, and the medical evidence is that it is likely to have played a part in having effects on her driving capability.

"That is perhaps as likely as anything to have caused the actions which resulted in her loss of life."