A shocked mother whose son died of a drugs overdose said she believed it was the first time he had tried heroin.

Marjorie Heaton said her son Graham had been treated for depression with medication prescribed by his doctor and was doing well before his death last year.

An inquest heard yesterday how 27-year-old Mr Heaton collapsed after injecting heroin and was dragged into a Bradford car park to try to bring him round.

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Heaton - whose husband Roy died of cancer last week - said her son had been taking medication for depression and the family believed he was making progress.

"He wasn't a druggie. It was just one of those things - he took it once," she said. "He didn't take drugs until the drugs he got from the doctor. When the doctor wrote his report he was doing quite well."

Mrs Heaton, of St Paul's Road, Birkenshaw, said she had been deeply shocked when she was told heroin was found in his body.

"He was 27 and you can't be on the back of him 24 hours a day," she said. "I just wish he had come with us instead that day."

Bradford Coroner's Court heard how Mr Heaton took the substance after he went to a flat with a man on October 26 last year. Everything appeared to be fine, but a short time later he turned blue.

Mr Heaton was then pulled out of the flat on to a landing and dragged down a flight of steps into a car park outside the Tong Conservative Club in Tong Street.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and tried to revive him but despite their efforts he died.

A post-mortem examination showed that Mr Heaton, who had lived with his parents, died from the adverse effects of drugs after heroin and a prescribed substance was found in his body.

Gary Vero had been with Mr Heaton when he injected himself in the flat and collapsed.

He told police how he took him from the flat to the car park and slapped his face three or four times, hoping the fresh air would help him come round.

The inquest was told there were believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragedy after police carried out an investigation.

Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict of death from the non-dependent abuse of drugs.