A 34-year-old woman died as a result of taking two different sorts of pain killers for her backache, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told that Maria Melia was found dead in bed on her birthday by her teenage son.

Witnesses said the night before she had been in high spirits, socialising with friends and planning a night out to celebrate her birthday.

Miss Melia, of Lancaster Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, died on her birthday on March 10.

Friend Yvonne Haworth told how she, Miss Melia and another friend had spent the evening at Lancaster Drive drinking and smoking cannabis.

"We were all laughing and had a really good time," said Miss Haworth. "We were making plans for Maria's birthday and she seemed very happy."

Son Aaron Melia Eccles, told how he walked one of his mum's friends home in the early hours and then spoke to his mum before she went to bed.

"She said she was looking forward to going out for her birthday," he said. The following day he found his mum dead in bed.

Dr Abdul Al Dawoud, who carried out the post mortem examination, said blood tests had shown the presence of Tramadol and dihydrocodeine, two extremely strong pain killers.

He said that on their own they would not have caused any problem but both work on the same point in the brain and can cause depression of the respiratory and heart functions.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of misadventure.