The photos of Rachel's death shocked the nation

The body of heroin addict Rachel Whitear, whose image was shown with a syringe in her hand when she died, may be exhumed.

Police have launched a new investigation into the 21-year-old's death after it was revealed a blood sample showed only a small amount of the drug in her body when she died.

Miss Whitear's death made national headlines when her parents, Michael and Pauline Holcroft, agreed to release pictures showing her kneeling as she died from what was believed to be an overdose.

They say they will give police permission, if asked, to exhume the body for a post-mortem examination to be carried out in an attempt to find out how she died.

Open verdict

On Saturday, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary confirmed it had launched its third inquiry after questions were raised surrounding Miss Whitear's death.

We have not been asked about an exhumation but if we were asked and there was a very good reason why they wanted to do that, then a family decision would have to be taken Michael Holcroft

Miss Whitear, from Ledbury in Herefordshire, was living in a bedsit in Exmouth when her body was discovered by her landlord.

A post-mortem examination was not carried out.

But at an inquest seven months after her funeral, the coroner for Devon said her death had not been caused by a heroin overdose.

Toxicology results showed there was not enough heroin in her blood to kill her and he recorded an open verdict.

Mr Holcroft said: "We have not been asked about an exhumation but if we were asked and there was a very good reason why they wanted to do that, then a family decision would have to be taken.

"I think we would definitely have to say yes."

'Asking questions'

Mrs Holcroft added that although the decision was a difficult one, she wanted to know the truth.

"It is not a decision we could take lightly.

"It is upsetting for members of the family. My husband and I are trying to be strong but not all the members of the family find it so easy. But we would all like to know the truth."

She added: "Why was there no post mortem?

"When the police contacted us after Rachel's death was we admitted she had been a heroin addict and because of the drugs paraphernalia found in her room it would look like an open and shut case.

"At the time we were in grief. Families are not geared up to ask these sorts of questions.

"Only two years down the line are we now dealing with this - at the time no one was interested. We now feel capable of asking these questions."

The couple have been praised by anti-drug groups after releasing the harrowing pictures of their dead daughter as a warning to others to stay away from drugs.

The Holcrofts also provided a video, Rachel's Story, which has been shown in schools as a deterrent against drugs.