Cause of death confirmed

Coroner ends speculation surrounding Whitney's passing...

09:52 23 March 2012

Whitney Houston's death was caused by accidental drowning with cocaine use and heart disease as factors, a coroner has ruled.

The announcement was made by coroner's spokesperson Craig Harvey and ends weeks of speculation surrounding the singer's death.

The official cause was cited as drowning and "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use", with the LA County Coroner's office adding that "no trauma or foul play is suspected".

Traces of marijuana, allergy medication, a muscle relaxant and an anti-anxiety drug were also found in the star's body.

The I Will Always Love You singer was found submerged in the bath of her Los Angeles hotel room on 11 February; the day before the Grammy Awards where she was set to perform.

She was laid to rest in New Jersey, after a funeral which was attended by her family and closest friends.

Whitney was one of the world's biggest selling artists of the 1980s to late 1990s and struggled with a long history of drug addiction.