A TEENAGER collapsed and died after apparently sniffing lighter fuel in her bedroom.

Police have now launched an investigation after paramedics were unable to revive 16-year-old Julie Day.

The youngster was discovered in the bedroom of her terraced home, in Fifth Street, Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, by a member of her family. She was rushed by ambulance to the University Hospital of Hartlepool, after collapsing at about 7pm on Tuesday.

Ambulance crews and doctors were unable to revive her and she was declared dead.

Police believe that Julie, a student at Peterlee College, might have been sniffing butane gas. No one else is thought to have been involved.

Officers were called in by hospital staff following the tragedy, and scene of crime officers went to her house. A number of items were taken away for examination.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out to establish the cause of death.

A County Durham police spokesman said: "One line of inquiry is that she may have been involved in some kind of solvent abuse. The incident is being treated as an accidental sudden death."

A neighbour said: "Julie was a lovely girl and this is a terrible tragedy. Her family are devastated and it's such a sad waste."

It is the second death of a teenager from the same village in only months where suspected substance abuse is believe to have been involved. A 15-year-old girl died in May after a night out in Hartlepool. She had consumed a cocktail of drink and drugs, including anti-depressants and Ecstasy, which led to her death.