A second man has now died after an “unusually strong batch” of heroin circulated across north Devon, as experts sound the alarm over fatally potent synthetic opioids infiltrating Britain’s illicit drugs market. One man died after taking heroin on Friday while a second man, who had earlier been admitted to hospital, died late on Saturday.

A second man has died after a so-called bad batch of heroin was circulated. Police declared a major incident in North Devon on Friday and said a batch of the drug had made people "very ill". Devon and Cornwall Police said 10 people were taken to hospital after incidents in Westward Ho!, Barnstaple and Bideford, with one dying.

Police have declared a major incident after a "bad batch of heroin" was believed to be circulating in north Devon. Posting on social media, Devon and Cornwall Police said a batch of the Class A drug was "making people very ill". The BBC has approached the force for more information.

A second man has died after a so-called bad batch of heroin was circulated. Police declared a major incident in North Devon on Friday and said a batch of the drug had made people "very ill". Devon and Cornwall Police said 10 people were taken to hospital after incidents in Westward Ho!, Barnstaple and Bideford, with one dying.

Police have declared a major incident after a "bad batch of heroin" was believed to be circulating in north Devon. Posting on social media, Devon and Cornwall Police said a batch of the Class A drug was "making people very ill".

Two people still in hospital following major incident across Westward Ho!, Bideford and Barnstaple

"We are continuing to carry out tests in order to ascertain what the substance is, but suspect it is a form of heroin combined with another substance which users will find causes