BEVERLY Maynard grew up in a large and loving household.

She was just like any other child, friendly and inquisitive with lots of friends.

Her own children are much the same - happy-go-lucky youngsters growing up in Brighton. But now they must learn to live without their mother. For 38-year-old Beverly died on Thursday night from an accidental overdose of heroin, making her the 30th overdose victim in Sussex this year.

Beverly is the second addict to die from the drug in a month. The nation reeled with shock when 21-year-old Claire Campbell, from Haywards Heath, died at the age of 21. She too had a loving and supportive family, whose lives are now in ruins. And on the eve of the inquest into Beverly's death the Argus can reveal the number of overdoses has increased ten-fold in just 12 months.

Now worried experts fear a purer, deadly strain of the drug is flooding the market from South America.

Dr Peter Sharp, toxicologist at Brighton Health Care NHS Trust, who is analysing Beverly's blood, said: "There is definitely an epidemic in Sussex.

"It's getting worse all the time. We had one spate in April and May where we were dealing with about two or three cases a week. By then, we had seen about 15 deaths, but overall, there's been more like 30 now so far this year. It used to be about three or four."

Beverly's heartbroken brother Gary Maynard, 40, does not want his sister's death to be in vain, and is urging anyone who suspects a loved one is using drugs to take action before it is too late.

Speaking from his home in St Leonard's Road, Hove, he said: "If you have suspicions, do something before it's too late. We all want to tell Beverly we loved her and now it's too late for us. We've missed our chance and she has gone. Don't make the same mistake."

Beverly, who was born in Brighton, lived with her six brothers and sisters in Pelham Street, Brighton, and Cowley Drive, Woodingdean. After leaving Cardinal Newman School in Upper Drive, Hove, she decided on a career in hairdressing and was delighted when she landed a job at a salon in Edward Street.

She had her first child, 16 years ago and two more followed later. But in 1990 things started to go wrong.

Gary said: " We tried to help her as she went downhill but she started to drink. It was because she was lonely.Beverly's relationship with the children's father ended, she stopped working and six months ago her two youngest children were placed with a foster family.

Gary said: "She stopped drinking a few months ago and got herself together to try and get her children back. But the smallest thing used to upset her. Then she would drink again."

He last saw his sister three weeks ago in St James's Street, Kemp Town, where she was her old smiling self.

It was on Friday, while on holiday in Somerset with his family, that Gary received a phone call from police telling him his sister had died. She had been found at an address in Gloucester Street, Brighton, and taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

When Gary discovered that police believe drugs, probably heroin, were involved, he was shocked. He said: "It was a terrible shock she had indulged in heroin. We knew she drank but couldn't believe she had touched drugs. She used to faint at the site of a needle.

"Everyone will remember Beverly as a happy, jolly girl, the real life and soul of a party. Now we are just trying to find out what happened. The police say there's a batch of very pure heroin out there which she must have taken."

Her sister Martine Maynard has told Beverly's children their mother had too much to drink, fell asleep, and is now a star in heaven.

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