A man is in intensive care after taking cocaine.

A patient from the Tiptree area was rushed to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford last night after taking the Class A substance.

Essex Police and East of England Ambulance Service are warning drug users across Essex of dangerous batches of the drug in circulation.

An 18-year-old man from Chelmsford received specialist heart treatment at Basildon University Hospital today after taking cocaine.

Ambulance crews were called at 8am to initial reports he was having difficulty breathing after taking the drug.

Regular drug users are reminded not to source substances from unknown suppliers while others are advised to refrain from ingesting illegal drugs.