A new lawsuit claims late actor Heath Ledger was lured to a hotel room by paparazzi so they could film him taking cocaine.

Footage from the incident was aired shortly after Ledger’s death from an accidental prescription drugs overdose in January, and now the new suit claims the episode was a set-up.

An anonymous woman - who is thought to be a freelance reporter working for People magazine - claims in the legal papers two photographers for Splash news lured Ledger into her hotel room at the Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles in January 2006.

Ledger was apparently given cocaine, as well as having some of his own, but became angry when he realised he was being filmed, and was told the footage would be destroyed.

The two photographers and Splash News’ Gary Morgan are being sued for fraud, negligence, trespassing and intentional infliction of emotional distress.