A DRUG user died after cannabis and amphetamine gave him heart failure, an inquest heard.

Huddersfield coroner Roger Whittaker said the death of 28-year-old Paul Betts, of Lancaster Crescent, Almondbury, should be a warning to the thousands of young people who use recreational drugs regularly.

He said: "This gives me the opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of taking these drugs.

"It does raise concern particularly with regard to what is not normally seen as a serious drug - cannabis."

Mr Betts suffered a stroke in November 2003 and since then had started taking amphetamine and cannabis.

In a report read out in court his wife of six years Lorraine said he had smoked several cannabis joints and taken amphetamine, known as wizz, on the day he died.

She said: "The day before he died he got up at about 11am complaining of heartburn. He smoked a couple of joints and later took some wizz.

"Then he said his heartburn was getting worse and had a lie down on the sofa.

"Later when we were both in bed he was gasping really badly. Then he was still and there was no movement."

Mrs Betts called for an ambulance and tried to give her husband the kiss of life but he died at the scene.

Alan Padwell, a pathologist at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, said there was a strong possibility the drugs caused Mr Betts to suffer an acute coronary thrombosis - a blockage of the artery.

He added there was no other reason found during the post mortem that suggested Mr Betts had anything seriously wrong with him.

Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict of death from taking illegal drugs.