SPICE can be even more dangerous than cannabis and an increasing number of people are having issues with it, according to a drugs expert.

Joni Thompson, who works as a treatment manager for drug service group Open Road, said she was seeing more and more people having issues with the synthetic cannabis after it emerged two Colchester teenagers had been hospitalised after taking the drug - which was dealt in Batman packaging.

She said: “We work very closely with the Essex Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service and from that we have had people come into us and talk about their issues with spice.

“We are seeing a slight increase the number of people and have been noticing that for a little while, perhaps it is to do with people wanting to try something new.”

Ms Thompson warned there were grave side effects to using the drug.

She said: “The danger of spice is you do not know the strength of it and you cannot be sure what you are putting into your body.

“It can cause all kinds of problems from psychotic episodes to paranoia.

“Usually it is more severe than something like marijuana and cannabis.”

Ms Thompson said she believed it was too early to say whether the Government's legal high ban in May had lowered its usage, and said people will find a way to get their hands on it if they were determined.

She said: “I think it is very difficult to say if the ban has made a difference.

“It is very early to see whether there has been an impact, but of course it is not as easily accessible as it was when you could get it from a headshop or online for teenagers who are looking to experiment.

“But of course, if you want to get hold of it you will find a way.

“There are people out there who will be able to source it, or if you are technologically minded then there is the dark web.”

Colchester Council’s safety boss Mike Lilley (Lab) has promised a crackdown on drugs.

The council has pledged thousands of pounds to try and stop London gangs trying to recruit vulnerable adults in Colchester, and Mr Lilley said this was the exact type of situation the council is striving to prevent by cutting out the chain.

He said: “We want to see strong action taken against anybody who causes anybody any harm.

“It just cannot be a good thing for anyone’s hospital treatment to involve them being put in a coma.

“All of these things are full of harmful ingredients and it is not the first time something like this has been mentioned in Colchester.

“If somebody has willingly sold this to two teenagers then they should be found and prosecuted just as somebody selling class A drugs would be.

“Hopefully the two teenagers will be able to tell the police where they got it from, who sold it to them and they can bring them to justice.”