POLICE believe drugs may have claimed the lives of two young people in separate incidents in the North-East.

Tests were being carried out last night on a 25-year-old woman from Hartlepool, after she died in suspicious circumstances.

An ambulance was called to a house in the West View area of the town after the woman collapsed. She was rushed to Hartlepool General Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Last night, a police spokesman confirmed that drug abuse was suspected.

He said: "We are investigating the possibility that an unlawful substance has been taken."

The spokesman said police were alerted at 11am on Saturday. The woman's boyfriend accompanied her to hospital.

Hartlepool coroner Malcolm Donnelly said he had been informed. He said it was usual to carry out tests for drugs when young people died without an obvious explanation.

But he said: "It could take months to establish the cause of death, depending on the nature of the substances found."

An inquest is expected to be opened tomorrow or Friday so that the body can be released for a funeral.

Meanwhile, detectives have begun an investigation after a 22-year-old collapsed and died after taking Ecstasy during a night out with friends at the Escape nightclub, in South Shields, Tyneside.

The man, who has not been named, had set off to walk home, but never arrived.

He was found slumped outside the home of a friend in Fairles Street, South Shields.

He was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital, but was dead on arrival.

A police spokesman said a post-mortem examination had been carried out, but further tests had to be completed.

He said: "We are keeping an open mind about the exact cause of this young man's death. He took half an Ecstasy tablet at the nightclub, but his death may be due to natural causes."

Police have interviewed the friends who were with him at the club.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0191-454 7555