THE health of six police officers was endangered when they arrested a man on suspicion of drugs possession.

Martin McClaren was being held in a cell at Deptford Police Station, Amersham Vale, when officers tried to search him and a struggle broke out.

As they restrained him, a quarter kilogram bag of powder he had under his clothing burst and filled the air.

The Peckham man, who has since been charged, shouted that the substance was heroin.

A police medic rushed to the scene and treated the officers for narcotics inhalation. The officers have taken time off to recover from the incident.