The Independent Press Standards Organisation has censured The Lancashire Evening Post.

The Lancashire Evening Post reported on an inquest, and as a result has been censured by IPSO.

At the inquest of Carly Potts, a 26 year old woman, the coroner stated that Potts family did not want to be contacted by the press.

However, a reporter acting on behalf of The Lancashire Evening Post contacted Potts grandmother.

Quotes obtained during this contact were subsequently used in an article published by the title.

IPSO stated: "Reporters in attendance at the inquest into Ms Potts’ death had been informed by the coroner that members of the Potts family did not wish to comment on the case to newspapers. The newspaper’s agents were made aware through these means that the family would not welcome an approach for comment about Ms Potts, and were obliged to take this into account in deciding how to proceed with the sensitivity required by the Code.

"In the absence of any specific justification for persisting with inquiries despite the family’s desire not to be approached, the reporters’ approach to Ms Potts’ grandmother in these circumstances   represented a failure to make enquiries with sensitivity and discretion, and an intrusion into the family’s grief in breach of Clause 5."

Further complaints that the report included excessive details and intruded into the family's grief were rejected by IPSO. It said: "Both the print and online versions of the article had stated that Ms Potts had consumed alcohol and had taken three specific drugs in the hours preceding her death. However, there was no suggestion in the article that the substances had been consumed as part of the method of suicide. As such, the inclusion of these details did not represent a breach of Clause 5."