A MAN was found dead at a nature reserve after taking an overdose of cocaine and heroin, an inquest has heard.

Christopher Piper, 41, was found unresponsive at Middlewick Ranges, off Mersea Road, Colchester, on March 31.

Paramedics attended and confirmed his death at the scene at 9.30am.

An inquest looking into the death of Mr Piper, who lived in the Colchester area, took place at Chelmsford Coroner's Court yesterday.

Coroner's officer Joe Lagrossi said: "Police confirmed no suspicious circumstances and stated he had been treated two days before for a heroin overdose where he had self discharged from hospital.

"A postmortem was carried out on April 8 at Colchester Hospital where an examination gave the cause of death as heroin and cocaine toxicity.

"The postmortem showed recent heroin use and substantial amounts of cocaine which contributed to the death."

Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray reached an open conclusion.

She said: "I have considered suicide but there is not enough evidence for me to record that.

"I have also considered accident but I am going to record an open conclusion.

"Please can my sympathies by expressed to Mr Piper's family."