No post-mortem examination was performed on Ms Whitear's body

The 21-year-old's body was found in a bedsit in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000 and pictures of her body were used in an anti-drugs video, Rachel's Story, released last year.

It was originally thought the student died of an overdose, but the case was re-opened after tests showed there was not enough of the drug in her blood to have caused death.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, head of Wiltshire CID, said on Tuesday that there was no evidence of foul play.

'Open mind'

"I ask that anyone who has any information about either Rachel or her death that might assist me in this task to contact me.

"That would include people who knew Rachel and, in particular, people who had contact with her in the days leading up to her death.

"I am approaching this with an open mind and will consider everything and discount nothing, but there is no information whatsoever to support any theory that Rachel was murdered."

Mr Howlett added that he had met Ms Whitear's parents, Michael and Pauline Holcroft, from Ledbury, Herefordshire.

"They are keen to obtain a greater understanding of what caused Rachel to die and that is at the very heart of my own investigation."