A Bradford student died in a freak accident in her bathroom, an inquest heard.

The devastated parents of York University student Lisa Marie Nicholls today called for an investigation into her death.

Lisa, 18, from, Beldon Road, Bradford, was found dead on the toilet in James College, Heslington, York, on October 25 last year after spending the evening in the Deramore Arms pub with university friends.

She had gone to bed at 10.45pm on October 24 and was found dead by university staff the next evening.

She was discovered sitting sideways on the toilet with her upper body arched down to the floor and her head under the sink.

York Coroner Donald Coverdale said the former Thornton Grammar student died from postural asphyxia, when oxygen is unable to travel normally around the body.

The inquest heard from police scenes of crime officer Michael Hudson that Lisa was using the toilet in a sideways manner because of lack of space.

She stood up, tripped - because her trousers covered the soles of her socks - and slipped, falling backwards and hitting her head or neck on the sink basin, which left her stunned or unconscious.

Her torso may then have slid down and her head may have struck the floor, before she landed in what Mr Coverdale called 'an unfortunate position'.

After the inquest, her father, Bob Nicholls, 51, said Lisa's death was a tragedy and wanted to know if her student bathroom had been too small.

"She was a real hard worker, very thorough and very focused," he said. "She wanted to work for NASA, she worked her socks off. She had only been at university three weeks. She was the life and soul of the party."

Lisa's mother, Janet, 51, said she would write to the university for answers. She said: "We need to do something. We don't want this to happen to other parents.

"We want to know if the size of the bathroom was inadequate. It is not normal for girls to have to sit on the toilet sideways, my daughter was 5ft 9ins.

"If there had been more space, she might still be here."

Mr Coverdale recorded a verdict of accidental death and said Lisa's death was 'a very unusual accident'.