Drugs warning issued over 'skype' ecstasy pills found at Parklife festival

An urgent drugs warning has been issued over purple and pink 'skype' ecstasy pills at the Parklife festival at Heaton Park, Manchester.

Drug awareness and testing charity The Loop shared an image of a tablet on Twitter on Saturday night.

The pills - said to contain a very high strength of MDMA - are embossed with the word 'skype'. One side is purple and the other pink.

The Loop said the pills were tested at the two-day festival and have been 'linked to welfare cases'.

Anyone feeling unwell was urged to seek urgent medical help.

Reports suggested the pills were the same shape and logo as blue and white tablets found in circulation two years ago.

The Loop said on Twitter: "Multiple purple and pink 'skype' pills. Tested today at Parklife and linked to welfare cases. Variable and high strength 250 - 300mg MDMA. Take care and seek medical help if unwell."

300mg of MDMA is understood to be more than three times the usual amount found in ecstasy pills.

The Loop's tweet was re-tweeted by the official Parklife Twitter account.

Before the festival, boss Sacha Lord urged all those at Parklife to look after each other.

Police meanwhile revealed that so far, a total of 18 arrests have been made around Parklife.

Of those, 14 arrests were made on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs. Greater Manchester Police said on Facebook that a number of these arrests related to nitrous oxide canisters.

One arrest was for assault, another for disorder and another for fraud.

Police also made an arrest for failing to appear in court.

Police said there had so far been no reports of anyone falling ill.

The festival at Heaton Park is expected to attract 80,000 people each day this weekend.