One of the six people who have died in Essex after suspected class A drug use has been named.

Friends of 20-year-old Cian Daly, from Leigh-on-Sea, set up a fundraising page after his death on Monday.

A “ride out” in Southend is being planned on 10 August to honour the motorbike and car enthusiast.

Money will be used for a memorial bench in local woods and to support his family. Nearly £2,500 has been raised so far.

Cian’s death is one of six in south Essex between Sunday and Tuesday that police think could be related to class A drugs.

Three men and three women have died:

• Sunday – A woman in her 30s died in Southend
• Monday – Cian Daly, 20, Leigh-on Sea
• Monday – A woman in her 30s died in Westcliff
• Tuesday – A man in his 40s died on Canvey Island
• Tuesday – A man in his 20s was found dead in Benfleet
• Tuesday – A woman in her 40s died on Canvey Island

Detectives have expressed caution over talk of a “dodgy” batch and said it could be the purity of the drugs that was to blame.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Baldwin said police were still trying to identify the substances involved and that forensic tests needed to be carried out.

He said: “All of the deaths occurred in their own homes, which is an unusual element because your own home is normally a safe environment and the circumstances suggest that they weren’t able to call for assistance.”

Chief Superintendent Baldwin added: “We haven’t yet got a timeline of when they might have taken the drugs and at which point they passed away.”

Public Health England urged drug users to be “extra careful” and test a small amount first.

It said: “They need to look out for each other and be alert to any signs of an overdose, such as lack of consciousness, shallow or no breathing, ‘snoring’, and blueing of the lips and fingertips.

:: Anyone with information about the deaths or the sale of class A drugs is asked to call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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