Merseyside Police are urging anyone who finds powerful prescription drugs lost in Wirral to hand them in.

A Boots carrier bag containing a box of three Burprenorphine tablets was lost in Birkenhead this morning.

The tablets act as a heroin substitute and in small doses can cause nausea, vomitting and a dry mouth but in larger doses can cause low blood pressure and respiratory problems.

In a separate incident, a large number of Tramidol painkillers and a smaller amount of Zopiclone sleeping tablets were stolen during a house burglary in Woodchurch.

Both types of drug can cause breathing or respiratory problems, especially in large doses.

Officers are urging anyone who comes across these drugs or others not to take them but instead hand them in to their nearest police station, pharmacy or health centre.