Teenage girl found dead in Newquay 'lived on streets'

An inquest into the death of a teenager in Newquay has heard she was living on the streets.

Lorna May, 17, died on 25 March 2009 at a friend's house where she had been left to sleep after a night drinking.

The coroner was told she was homeless and alcohol dependent, but grandparents had previously looked after her.

Cornwall Deputy Coroner Peter Blackwell-Smith adjourned the inquest to examine a report from the county's Safeguarding Children's Board.

He said he was to liaise with relevant agencies about the case.

Several witness statements were read at the hearing.

They said Miss May had been seen arguing with her older boyfriend, who was also an alcoholic and a drug user, the previous day.

A toxicologist confirmed there had been alcohol in her system, plus the tranquilizer valium and methadone, a substance often prescribed as a substitute for heroin.