FOURTEEN-year-old Catherine Kent was prescribed the contraceptive pill to control her periods an inquest was told.

Catherine was found dead in bed by her grandmother at her home in Crawford Street, Nelson, shortly after 6pm on Monday.

A post mortem examination by Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler failed to establish why she died. Samples have been sent for analysis to Manchester University toxicology department.

Catherine's family are upset by inaccurate reports in the national Press linking the pill to her death. Her grandmother Catherine Smith of Regent Street, Nelson, told the inquest in Burnley that Catherine, whose real name was Latoya Catherine Campbell Mitchell, had not suffered any medical problems, only severe migraine. She had recently seen a doctor because of problems with her periods and was prescribed the contraceptive pill to get her regular, she said.

East Lancashire coroner David Smith said there seemed to have been some misunderstanding by the national Press.

He added: "We don't know the reason why she died. Further tests are being done which could take six to eight weeks. We just don't know the cause of death at the moment.''

Mr Smith said he realised it was very upsetting for the family to be held in suspense over the cause of cause but they could now go ahead with the funeral.

He adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

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