New stronger strain of drug Spice which is 'cheaper than beer'

A new stronger strain of the drug Spice which is "cheaper than beer" is blighting the streets of Britain.

The former legal high is a described as being like "synthetic cannabis", but some say it is more like heroin.

Its effects can leave users in a zombie-like state for hours where they appear frozen to the spot.

Other symptoms include psychotic episodes, hallucinations, seizures, vomiting and uncontrollable body movements.

• Shocking video shows how Spice turns people into 'walking dead'

In just three days, police in Manchester said they were called to 60 spice-related incidents, and the problem is becoming more widespread.

Liverpool, Birmingham and Nottingham in particular are experiencing growing problems with the drug.

And when it sells for as little as £5 a gram, it can often work out cheaper than buying beer for the some of the homeless people who take it.

• Teenager turns his life around after Spice addiction

Hendrix Lancaster from homeless charity Coffee4Craig told ITV News: "At the moment we've got a new strain of Spice.

"The percentages of the chemicals which create the biggest effects are getting higher and higher, and that's the problem that we're faced with at the moment.

"This the reason we are getting these effects of people collapsing, people being almost frozen to the spot."