POLICE have warned of the dangers of prescription drugs following an inquest into the death of a 15-year-old boy who suffered a fatal allergic reaction to anti-depressant tablets.

An inquest at Durham County Hall this week heard how Steven Dawson suffered an extreme allergic reaction after swallowing around a dozen anti-depressants a friend had stolen from a neighbour.

A Home Office pathologist told the inquest that Steven started hallucinating, suffered a massive asthma attack and died after coming off his bike in the Deerness Valley near his home in Ushaw Moor.

Following his death, on March 21 this year, a worker cycling to work in Langley Park came across the teenager's body lying face down in a water course at the bottom of a deep embankment.

Police initially suspected foul play but cuts and bruises found on his body came from his last frantic grapple for breath in the undergrowth rather than an assault of some kind.

A toxicology report revealed that Steven, a pupil of Deerness Valley Comprehensive, had suffered a reaction to the anti-depressant pills, causing his throat, neck and lungs to inflame and swell up, triggering an asthma attack and blocking his breathing.

The boy's father, Alan Dawson, of Ash Avenue, Ushaw Moor, told the inquest: "We were so surprised that he had taken the tablets - there was no sign he was ever into drugs of any kind."

Deputy North Durham Cor-oner Brenda Davidson recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, adding: "It's an extremely tragic situation where we have a group of young people who do not understand the implications of what they have done.

"There have been a lot of young people involved in this investigation and I sincerely hope they have learned something.

"If nothing else, they will have learned from the tragic loss this family have suffered."

Speaking after the inquest, Det Insp Andy Reddick, of County Durham Police, said parents and youngsters must heed their anti-drug warnings.

He said: "We must issue a warning to adults to make sure that tablets are locked away in a secure location because they can be taken by children by accident or for experimenting.

"Also, youngsters must be warned not to take anything they do not know what it is or what effect it might have.