Police investigating the death of Devon-based heroin addict Rachel Whitear have interviewed a witness in Greece.

The witness, one of the last people to see Rachel alive, gave two Wiltshire Police officers information about events prior to the 21-year-old's death.

Ms Whitear's parents, who live in Herefordshire, released shocking pictures of Rachel after she died at a bedsit in Exmouth in May 2000, in an attempt to warn others of the dangers of drugs.

The images showed her kneeling on the floor grasping a syringe in her hand.

The investigation into Rachel's death was reopened after tests showed she did not have enough drugs in her blood to have died of an overdose.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary voluntarily referred the case to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).

The second investigation is being carried out by Wiltshire Constabulary under PCA supervision.

PCA head of publicity Richard Offer said the witness, who lives in Greece, gave officers information about Rachel's state of mind and lifestyle shortly before her death.

'He has provided information which moved the inquiry forward. He was one of the last witnesses officers needed to interview.

'They have more or less finished their inquiries now and will proceed with writing their report,' he said.

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