POLICE fear a rogue batch of heroin could be on the streets of Dorset after eight people were taken ill on the same night.

Six people were taken to hospital and another two seen by paramedics on Saturday.

Paramedics were called to an address in Dorchester, six locations in Bournemouth and one in Wareham after people who used heroin suffered adverse reactions.

Two women and a man were still in Royal Bournemouth Hospital yesterday and a man remained in Poole Hospital.

One man had been discharged earlier in the day from Royal Bournemouth and one from Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

Another man received treatment from paramedics on Saturday and one refused treatment.

Detective Inspector Steve Thorpe, of Dorset Police’s public protection unit, said: “Although toxicology tests have yet to confirm this, we believe that these people may have been hospitalised as a result of taking the same batch.”

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences.