Girl, 15, dies after taking suspected 'legal high' drug

• Video report by ITV News Correspondent Jenny Longden

A 15-year-old girl has died after suffering a suspected adverse reaction to a drug formerly known as a "legal high", Devon and Cornwall Police said.

The teenager passed out after taking an unknown "psychoactive substance" in Bakers Park, Newton Abbot, police have said.

She was taken to Torbay District Hospital at around 3am but died while being treated, police said.

Detective Superintendent Ken Lamont said he believed that the teenager had been at a "sizable gathering" in the park overnight.

He continued that Devon and Cornwall Police were "confident" that people knew where the drugs had come from and urged the community to come forward with information.

Det Supt Lamont added that although psychoactive substance were formally known as "legal highs", they are "illegal" and "very, very dangerous, probably more dangerous than traditional drugs".

Two other teenage girls were also taken to Torbay District Hospital, but both have since been discharged.

"Police currently believe that the 15-year-old girl who died had taken a new psychoactive substance, more commonly referred to as 'legal highs', and had suffered adverse reaction," the force said in a statement.

Her family have been told of her death.

Police have appealed for anyone with information or who was in the park in the early hours of Saturday morning to contact them on 101, or on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.