A YOUNG mother died from solvent abuse, an inquest heard yesterday.

Mother-of-two Sarah Louise Richardson, 19, died after inhaling gas from an aerosol can on July 4.

Her boyfriend, Martin Porter, had pleaded with her to stop abusing solvents minutes before she died at their home in Carlton Street, Ferryhill Station.

Mr Porter told the inquest, at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court, that he had asked her not to inhale gas because he and their two children, aged two and three, loved her and did not want to lose her.

He said Miss Richardson had been abusing solvents for about four weeks but she believed the only side effect would be hunger pangs.

But five minutes after leaving the living room to inhale gas, Mr Porter said he heard her walking along a passage and then falling to the floor.

He called an ambulance and was talked through resuscitation attempts but he and paramedics who arrived later, were unable to revive her.

Pathologist Dr Don Senadhira said the cause of death was inhalation of butane, isobutane and propane.

Investigating officer Inspector Paul Roe, of Bishop Auckland police, said: "There were no suspicious circumstances and no-one was charged with any offences."

Darlington and South Durham coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.