AN alert has been issued over a "particularly dangerous" batch of heroin after 14 people suffered overdoses in the last 24 hours in Teesside.

Cleveland Police have been working with their partner agencies including North East Ambulance Service and Public Health England along with Service Providers after the overdoses, with one resulting in the death of a 50-year-old Stockton man.

Police and North East Ambulance Service are reiterating this message once again that lives are being put at risk by accepting this particularly dangerous grade of heroin. A police spokesman said: "This bad batch of drugs was centred around the Oxbridge area of Stockton. However, there was also one victim brought into hospital from Middlesbrough."

Police have warned drug users over the past months to be cautious as there has been a surge in these low grade drugs becoming available and they should seek the support of their service providers before putting their lives in danger.

The police spokesman said: "In particular, those who purchase their drugs via street suppliers should be extremely cautious."