Ecstasy death toll rises to 14 as women, 27 and 29, die after taking pills sparking police warning to users A 27-year-old woman died in Sale, and a 29-year-old died in Newcastle Police believe both took the Class A drug, which has now killed 14 this year Officers say criminal gangs are mixing the drug with poisons which can kill New form of ecstasy is PMA, aka 'pink ecstasy' which is super-strength Martha Fernback, 15, also died on Saturday after allegedly taking PMA Two young women have died after apparently overdosing on ecstasy after a weekend of drug-related tragedy which has left three families mourning young women. A 27-year-old woman died in Greater Manchester after taking pills police believe were the Class A drug, and a 29-year-old, named locally as mother-of-one Gemma Hirst, died in hospital in Newcastle this morning having suffered a serious reaction to what police believe was ecstasy tablets. The incidents, which came on the same weekend as a teenager died in an Oxford park after allegedly taking the drug, brought the death toll by the drug to 14 this year, prompting police to warn of the dangers of taking drugs which may be stronger than expected or adulterated with poisonous substances. Police guard the Newcastle home of Gemma Hurst, 29, who is believed to have died after today taking ecstasy Officers were today inspecting Miss Hurst's home after she died in hospital after being taken ill at the weekend The 27-year-old woman, from the Sale area, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning but died a short time later. Officers confirmed the woman had died after taking pills believed to be the Class A drug and a post-mortem is set to take place today, with further toxicology tests expected after that. In the incident in Newcastle, police and paramedics were alerted to a house in the east of the city after concerns were reported about a woman inside. The 29-year-old woman was taken to the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary after suffering a serious reaction to what police believe was an illegal substance. Today neighbours named her as Gemma Hurst, who is believed to have had a young son and who is said to have been hosting a party in memory of her brother Paul, who died five years ago. Friends posted tributes on Facebook today, with one from Shelley Marie Bias, saying: 'Seriously cannot believe it. All my love to Sheila and family. Gemma, you were a beautiful friend. You and Paul look after each other. Gone way too soon. The young woman died in hospital in the early hours of this morning and police have arrested two people in connection with the incident. Officers seized a number of what are believed to be ecstasy tablets and eight other men and women from the address were taken to hospital to be checked over before being arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. A number of what are believed to be ecstasy tablets have been seized by police, who this afternoon bailed ten people pending further enquiries. Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy, left, issued a warning about the danger of ecstasy after a weekend in which two people died having apparently taken types of the drug including 15-year-old Martha Fernback, pictured right Two people, a man aged 33 and a woman aged 23, have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and are helping police with enquiries. The new tragedies come after three deaths in Macclesfield, two in Bolton, two in Wigan, two in Buxton, Derbyshire, and further fatalities in Salford and Warrington. Chief Constable Peter Fahy, of Greater Manchester Police, warned partygoers that criminal gangs were mixing the drugs with poisonous substances to make more money. He said: "We have been concerned about deaths due to drugs and overdoses and at the same time particularly concerned that criminal gangs are mixing and adulterating drugs with poisonous substances. People who take drugs need to be extremely careful and if they have any information about who may be producing this stuff they need to get in touch with us. The latest deaths mean 14 people have died this year from the drug, and have prompted a police warning about its dangers - they are particularly worried about super-strong 'pink ecstasy' (file image) 'It goes without saying it's being produced by criminal gangs and a lot of them are reckless about what they put in there and are quite prepared to put in all sorts of substances and mixing it just to make more money.' Further south, 15-year-old Martha Fernback died on Saturday after allegedly taking a super-strength 'pink ecstasy' tablet, also known as Dr Death or PMA. A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of supplying the drug after Martha, an only child, was found by a lake in Hinksey Park, south Oxford. She was airlifted to the John Radcliffe hospital but pronounced dead soon afterwards. These drugs have become more available and they are a much dirtier form: they are highly potent and potentially lethal. Dr JS Bamrah, consultant psychiatrist PMA is an ecstasy-style amphetamine which can be five times stronger than ecstasy and can kill by causing a potentially fatal increase in body temperature. It can be an ingredient in ecstasy tablets. Last week, an inquest into the death of 19-year-old fitness instructor Travis Barber, from Salford, Greater Manchester, found he had died after overdosing on PMA. His mother Dr Louise Barber warned other drug users they were playing "Russian roulette with their lives" by experimenting with the drug. Dr JS Bamrah, consultant psychiatrist at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, said the health service across the region had witnessed a spike in drug users falling ill after taking ecstasy, particularly PMA. He said: 'The problem is these drugs have become more available and they are a much dirtier form of the drug; they are highly potent and potentially lethal. We are noticing is that users are becoming younger and younger. The drugs have a very strong stimulating effect and cause heart rates and temperatures to rise dramatically which can result in medical complications.