A Big Issue seller was found dead on Christmas morning in a friend's bathroom after accidentally taking an overdose.

Dan Taylor, 27, had a history of drug abuse and had tried unsuccessfully a number times to kick his heroin habit.

Mr Taylor, who was was born in Worcestershire, moved to Brighton several years ago and was living at St Patrick's Hostel in Cambridge Road, Hove.

An inquest into his death at Brighton Magistrates' Court yesterday, heard Mr Taylor admitted using heroin to his doctor and was addicted to prescription drugs such as valium and sleeping tablets.

On Christmas Eve, Mr Taylor was selling the Big Issue outside Sainsbury's in London Road, Brighton.

He met a friend, Gareth Clarke, of Hillside, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, who invited him to spend the evening at his home.

Mr Clarke told the inquest: "He was over the moon when I asked him to come to my house."

The couple shared a few beers and Mr Clarke went to bed.

When he went into the bathroom the following morning, he discovered Mr Taylor unconscious and a syringe in the sink.

A post mortem revealed Mr Taylor had taken heroin and diazepam and there were small traces of cocaine in his blood.

Brighton and Hove coroner Veronica Hamilton Deeley recorded a verdict that Mr Taylor died of an accidental overdose.