Police are warning people attending the Latitude Festival to beware of the dangers of 'legal highs'.

In a package of crime prevention advice to help those attending have a safe and enjoyable time, officers have spoken of the potential effects of New Psychoactive Substances.

A spokesman said: 'They can have significant health risks, can affect your behaviour and make you more vulnerable.

'You also don't know what the substance is that you are taking or what effect they may have on you.

'Please be aware that a number are also controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 so you could be committing an offence – all are potentially dangerous and could cause you long term health problems.'

The 10th Latitude Festival is at Henham Park between July 16-19.

The spokesman said: 'The number of people attending the event means Latitude has a population equivalent to the size of a small town and, although it is generally a family friendly place to be, there are some who may take advantage of this.

'The main crime problem at music festivals across the UK tends to be thefts from tents on the campsites.

'In previous years there have been a number of such offences, many on the first night of the festival when it's likely that criminals target tents on the assumption that those camping are settling in, have not made plans for their security and may have withdrawn lots of cash to see them through the weekend.

'Other thefts have occurred while festivalgoers had their attention diverted while watching performances. This included instances where people had camera equipment stolen from near their feet, thefts from bags that were being carried and items stolen from pockets.'

Offiers say people should be mindful of their personal safety and stick with friends, moderate alcohol consumption, don't take large sums of cash, and make use of the free property storage tent to keep valuables safe, and to report any suspicious activity.

For more Latitude news, see here