PARENTS and carers are being warned about drug-infused sweets and chocolate which are on the rise in North Yorkshire.

The "edibles", which can look like well-known sweets like Haribo, Smarties and chocolate bars, can be laced with illegal drugs like cannabis and MDMA.

North Yorkshire Police’s school liaison team is warning parents and carers about them because of a recent increase in availability and use.

PC Lauren Green said: “We want to make parents and carers aware that we have seen a slight rise in young people being in possession of drug-infused sweets known as “edibles”.

“They can look very similar to well-known sweets such as Haribo, Smarties and chocolate bars. “Edibles can be laced with illegal drugs such as cannabis and MDMA.

“Unregulated sweets like these are dangerous as we don’t know what levels of drugs they contain. They are available to buy on the internet and so could easily be obtained by young people, especially at this time when they are using the internet more than ever due to the coronavirus restrictions.”

For more guidance and support visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk.

Anyone with information about suspected illegal drug use or drug dealing is urged to call 101.