A MAN found dead on a railway embankment by passing youths was believed to have taken a mix of alcohol and drugs, an inquest was told.

Two teenagers came across the body of Dean Timms lying by the side of a track at a junction between the Drum Industrial Estate and Gairloch Drive, Perkinsville, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

The hearing, in Durham, was told that despite the location, there was nothing to suggest Mr Timms, of Conway Place, Perkinsville, had intended to take his own life.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper following Mr Timms' death in June last year.

Dr Cooper said alcohol levels suggested the 22-year-old window cleaner had drunk the equivalent of six pints of beer.

He added that the indication was that he had taken, "more than one or two" tablets of Temazepam, a class C prescription drug.

He said: "It's very difficult to kill yourself with Temazepam, but it has effects on the brain and, with alcohol, can be dangerous."

North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle said: "I am not for one moment thinking he intended harm. It is a very unfortunate combination of having the tablets and alcohol."

Mr Tweddle recorded a verdict of misadventure.