CHILDREN as young as 14 can easily buy class A drugs on Teesside using a mobile phone app, a BBC investigation has found.

The investigation revealed that the popular social media app Snapchat is being used by dealers across Teesside to advertise substances and arrange drug deals.

The BBC's Inside Out North East team used a 14-year-old decoy who was able to buy two grams of MDMA using the app. His profile clearly showed he was a schoolboy.

The drugs were picked up by an undercover reporter, the deal was arranged in seconds, and delivered in minutes.

Harry Shapiro, a drugs adviser, said: "There's no way you can varnish the truth about this, the worst that can happen to young people who consume a two gram bag of MDMA is they run the risk of dying.

"It's as simple as that."

The National Crime Agency said the issue was "alarming" and acknowledged it was a "growing threat".

Snapchat is a social media app that allows people to post photos and video, which then disappear once they have been read.

The company claims to reach more than 60 per cent of 13-34 year-olds in the UK,

The BBC's investigation discovered a number of Snapchat accounts posting regular videos showing large amounts of cocaine, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis.

Dealers post videos that promote the drugs they have for sale, as well as sending daily offers and advertisements via private messaging.

One dealer claimed to be giving away an ounce of MDMA in a raffle users could only enter if they promoted the dealer's account to two of their friends. This "prize" could have had a street value of up to £1,400.

And users in Middlesbrough can buy drugs for as little as £10.

Inside Out’s undercover reporter used Snapchat to buy cocaine in Dock Street in Middlesbrough and the MDMA was handed over in Linthorpe Road during a two-week investigation.

The reporter then used a Home Office-approved kit to check the drugs were real.

Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of Childline, said the findings were "shocking".

In a statement, Snapchat said: “We are aware that some bad actors have exploited our service. We encourage anyone who sees illegal content to report it."

The programme airs tonight on BBC One at 7.30pm.