Man's death in Bristol 'linked to legal high' drug

A police spokesperson said the 49-year-old man was found unresponsive in St James Park on Friday and subsequently died

A man has died in Bristol after it is believed he took the legal high commonly known as "Spice", police said.

A spokesperson said the 49-year-old man was found unresponsive in St James Park on Friday and subsequently died.

Spice - a synthetic cannabis substitute - is described by some experts as being up to 100 times as potent as cannabis.

In separate incidents three other men were also taken to hospital on the same day after falling ill at two other locations in the city.

Avon and Somerset Police said there was "information to suggest some of those affected may have taken Spice".

The police spokesperson added, that it was investigating whether there was an "evidential link between the incidents".

Paul Bunt, the force's drugs strategy manager, warned people not to take "these so-called legal highs" following a number of "serious incidents" in the city.

"If you take an NPS [New Psychoactive Substance] you are playing Russian roulette with your health," he said.

"Many of these types of products have not been tested on humans and can contain chemicals which, if consumed, can leave you at a grave risk of suffering serious ill health and can even prove fatal."