DRUG users have been warned to be extra careful and on the alert after high purity heroin was found to be in circulation.

Police seized a quantity of the drug during an operation in Scarborough – and found it to be three or four times stronger than usual street levels.

And users in North Yorkshire are now being urged to be extra careful as such high purity heroin can be “extremely harmful.”

Officers have been working with local partners in Scarborough to monitor purity levels of heroin since last year to try and prevent any unnecessary overdoses.

Superintendent Glyn Payne said that since they began their anti-drug campaign Operation Impact in the resort a year ago police had been monitoring the purity of heroin seized.

He said: “Having seized some heroin which has a very high level of purity during a recent operation, I would like to stress to drug users, not just in Scarborough but across North Yorkshire, to be very careful about what they are taking.

“If you have taken heroin and are feeling unwell you should seek immediate medical advice from your GP or at the hospital in an emergency.

He added: “I would also appeal to people who have friends or family who are drug users, to keep an eye on them at this time and encourage them to engage with support workers at local drug intervention centres.”