THE father of a "lovely and pleasant" teenage girl who died from a suspected overdose said he hoped the tragedy would alert other families of the scourge of illegal drugs.

Karen Harland, who police said came from a highly respectable home in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was declared dead by paramedics at her boyfriend's house, at 7am on Saturday.

Her death has shocked family members and friends, who described Karen, who turned 19 last week, as a nice girl who would not have more than a couple of drinks on a night out.

Yesterday, her father, Glen Harland, of Park Road Central, said: "We are all too distressed to talk about it, but I would say this is a wake-up call to every other family about what can happen."

Police said that an ambulance crew and police officers were called to her boyfriend's terraced home at Urpeth Terrace, at High Handenhold, between Stanley and Chester-le-Street.

She was found in an upstairs bedroom and was declared dead at the scene.

Yesterday, a worker at nearby pub, The Bird Inn, who declined to be named, said: "She was a nice girl who came from a nice background. You wouldn't even see her drunk. She would maybe have two wine and sodas, and that would be it. This is really shocking."

Karen worked as a temporary clerk at Northern Electric and Gas, in Gateshead, for six months until shortly before her death.

Detectives said they are keeping an open mind about the circumstances of her death, although drugs were thought to be involved.

* Two men, a 24-year-old from Grange Villa, and a 21-year-old from High Handenhold, were arrested at the weekend on suspicion of being in supply of controlled drugs. The pair were interviewed and released on police bail pending further inquiries.