POLICE in the North-East have confirmed that a warning circulating the Internet about a sterilisation drug being used in date rapes is a hoax.

Fraudsters started circulating an e-mail claiming that rapists are now using Progesterex, a drug which they say is used to sterilise large animals, along with the date rape drug, Rohypnol.

They claim if the drug is used to spike a woman's drink, the sterilisation is permanent.

The e-mail, which has been circulated round several departments at the universities of Durham and Teesside, but is believed to have originated in the US, says: "There is a new drug that has been out for less than a year, Progesterex, that is essentially a small sterilisation pill.

"The drug is now being used by rapists at parties to rape and sterilise their victims.

"The drug is available exclusively to vets to sterilise large animals.

"But I have heard from several of my friends that the drug is being used with Rohypnol, the date rape drug.

"Progesterex, which dissolves in drinks just as easily, is being used with it so that the woman doesn't conceive from the rape and the rapist doesn't have to worry about having a paternity test identifying him months later.

"But the drug's affects aren't temporary. Any woman that takes it will not have children ever in her life."

A spokesman for Durham Police branded the warning an "urban myth". He said the e-mail was a hoax and that Progesterex did not even exist.

A warning on the Drug Rape Trust website reads: "This is a hoax whose only purpose seems to be to cause alarm. Progesterex does not exist, there is no mention of it in the literature or drug databases.

"The hoax seems to have been around since at least November 1999, and has features common with other Internet hoaxes - an urgent and fear-inducing tone, a lack of verifiable sources and the usual plea to forward the message to everyone you know.

"It's important to be aware that the crime of date rape does occur and that drugs are sometimes used to sedate victims.

"But the 'Progesterex' scare is baseless. If anyone receives this hoax by e-mail, please do not forward it further."