THREE men have been arrested in connection with the death of a 21-year-old after a spate of deaths linked to contaminated Class A drugs.

Today the Oxford Mail revealed that organisations are on 'red alert' following three possibly drug-related deaths in West Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Police was called to the first incident in Hailey Road, Witney at about 5am on Saturday, January 14. 

Spokesman Jack Abell said: "Officers attended the scene where sadly a 21-year-old man had been pronounced dead. Next of kin have been informed."

Subsequently a 20-year-old man from Witney, a 22-year-old man from Northmoor and a 21-year-old man from Bampton have been arrrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs. All three have been bailed until Saturday, March 11.

On Monday, January 16 about 11.35pm police and the ambulance service were called to Hughes Close in Charlbury where a 40-year-old man was pronounced dead. 

Then on Thursday, January 19 emergency services attended an address in Sedge Way, Carterton at about 3.20am, where a 48-year-old man was also pronounced dead.

All three deaths are being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and files are being prepared for the coroner.

A bad batch of heroin and crack cocaine is believed to be the cause, although it is not yet known if the drugs were cut with other substances or of unusually high purity.

A notice seen by the Oxford Mail, which was sent to drugs services, hospitals, GPs and other agencies across the county, said the deaths were in the Witney and Chipping Norton area.

It warned users of the dangers of buying drugs from an unknown source.

Drug service Turning Point is handing out Naloxone - a medication used by the ambulance service to counteract the effects of opiates - to people at risk.

Andy Symons, a senior operations manager at Turning Point's Oxford hub in Rectory Road, East Oxford, said: "It is very sad and very unfortunate. We are still trying to get details on the third person.

"Since I've been here in early 2015 we have only had a few drug-related deaths. It's unusual and we are speaking to our service users.

"Illegal substances like heroin tend to be cut but sometimes they are a lot purer than usual and so people are taking double the amount."

Mr Symons said yesterday: "If someone does overdose they lose consciousness or get very drowsy but a friend of family member can use Naloxone to bring them around.

"We would encourage everyone to come in for treatment because generally if people are in contact with services it's safer."

Unconfirmed reports on social media suggested the drug involved may have been Fentanyl, a controlled Class A drug and opioid pain medication.

Mr Symons said it 'would not be a surprise' if this were the case but post-mortem examinations were still ongoing.

The county council issued a red alert on its early warnings system on Wednesday, January 18.

In a statement released yesterday, member for Public Health Councillor Hillary Hibbert-Biles said: "As far as I’m concerned there is no safe illegal drug and I advise people not to take them.’

Sean Adamson, an ex-drug user and therapeutic key worker at residential rehab The Ley Community in Yarnton, said residents were being warned of the risks.

He said: "Sadly you can't actually stop people using. It's more about harm reduction.

"It could be cut with talcum powder or brick dust; one of the things we are aware of is benzodiazepines. It's a sedative, so it's cheaper."

Police spokesman Jack Abell said officers were investigating the incidents but couldn't confirm whether any arrests had been made.

In May 2014 warnings were issued about contaminated heroin after the sudden death of a 50-year-old man in Oxford.

The victim was found dead in his room at homeless hostel O’Hanlon House at the same time as a spate of non-fatal admissions to hospital in which several people had collapsed as a result of taking heroin.