AN INQUEST jury has found the actions of undercover police officers were "appropriate" in using an addict to lure them to drug dealers on the afternoon he died.

James Varey, 38, died from alcohol and mixed drug poisoning at his home in Marley Street, Keighley, on June 13, 2012, after he bought heroin and drank lager in the company of two plain-clothes officers.

Mr Varey had been approached by the officers as part of the early stages of Operation Lambfield, set up in May 2012 to reduce crime in Keighley, including drugs offences.

Returning its verdict today, the jury said Mr Varey had consumed a "large quantity" of alcohol on the day he died, alongside taking methadone and heroin, saying the "combination of alcohol and drugs had caused his death".

The jury also found that while Mr Varey had been with undercover officers when he purchased heroin and had alcohol given to him by police "the actions of these officers were appropriate in the circumstances".

Ian Skelt, acting on behalf of West Yorkshire Police, said anyone who took heroin or drank to excess "exposed themselves to serious injury or death", adding if undercover officers identified anyone as being at risk, a structure was in place for appropriate intervention to occur.

Ifeanyi Odogu, for Mr Varey's family, said there was a "real risk future deaths could occur", if managing potential risks to members of the public was left entirely to officers who had no specific training on the dangers of substance abuse.

Assistant Bradford Coroner Neil Cameron said while it was a "borderline case" for him to make a recommendation regarding the training of undercover officers, he refused, adding: "Everyone knows taking illicit drugs or drinking alcohol to excess can kill you."