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Seven people living in one town are believed to have died from drugs contaminated by an anaesthetic normally used on elephants.

Police are warning drug users to be careful after the death toll mounted over three weeks in the Barnsley area of South Yorkshire.

Officers believe batches of heroin have been contaminated with powerful anaesthetics carfentanyl and fentanyl to make it stronger.

Many drug users develop a a tolerance to drugs they use regularly so chase more intense highs even though they are risking their lives, Sunday People reports.

Fentanyl is an anaesthetic used to help prevent pain after surgery or other medical procedures and is 100 times more potent than street heroin.

Carfentanyl is far stronger than fentanyl and is normally used only on large animals like elephants and bears.

Warnings about the two additives were rife in America last year after a spate of drug deaths thought to be linked to the two synthetic opioids.

(Image: Science Photo Library RF)

But they had become such popular additives that dealers were even offering naloxone - a drug meant to reverse overdoses - to customers buying the super-strength heroin.

South Yorkshire Police said the latest death was reported last Wednesday (May 3).

Two other people died on April 20 and 21 while three men and a woman were found dead at separate addresses on April 14.

(Image: EyeEm)

A spokesman said: “We are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding each death and continue to explore whether there are any connections between them”.

Assistant chief constable Tim Forber said previous warnings issued across the Yorkshire and Humber region indicated that batches of heroin had been contaminated.

(Image: Science Photo Library RF)

He said: “Officers in South Yorkshire are working closely with investigative teams across the Yorkshire and Humber region to piece together the information we have gathered as part of our enquiries into this series of incidents.

“We continue to work with our partners in public health to raise awareness of the risks to drug users and I would urge anyone who has concerns, or has taken a substance and feels unwell, to please seek medical advice immediately.

“I would encourage anyone with information about those who may be involved in illegal drugs supply in Barnsley or anywhere in our county, to please call police on 101 or anonymously make contact with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”