The story that shocked the nation – describing the death of a 21-year-old heroin addict – was broken by the regional press before it was picked up by the nationals.

National media bombarded The Hereford Times with requests for information.

But it was hard work by the Hereford Times and its staff that secured an exclusive on the tragedy, which featured on the front pages of many of those nationals the next day.

Graphic photographs of the dead girl’s body were used in the weekly and the story generated coverage in print and on television for much of the following week.

The Hereford Times took steps to ensure Rachel’s Story became the special piece it warranted.

Throughout its preparation there were numerous meetings between the editor, news desk and reporter Anita Howells.

Sensitivity, especially over the use of the photographs, was paramount.

Editor Liz Griffin said: “The use of photographs of Rachel’s body caused some heart-searching, but we knew that this was what the family wanted to underline the strong warning they were issuing to try to prevent other deaths.”

Anita’s dealings with Rachel’s family did not close with the end of the interview. She regularly kept in touch and updated them as the story was written.

They trusted The Hereford Times to help them launch a deterrent that could save young lives and, in a way, newspaper and mum and dad became a team.

News editor Nigel Heins said:”Here were parents prepared to share in every detail the harrowing trauma of a much-loved daughter’s dreadful decline – including photographs of her purple, bloated body.

“Rachel’s Story, presented the opportunity to snap people out of what had become a seemingly infinite tolerance of an everyday evil.”