THREE people have been arrested in Cumbria following an incident involving what police describe as 'bad valium'.

Officers were alerted last night after a 28-year-old woman from Maryport was admitted to West Cumberland Hospital, where she was given emergency medical attention.

The suspected drugs are small blue-coloured, or similar, pills and are being sold by street dealers as valium or ‘blues’.

In response to the incident, police have arrested three people, all from the Maryport area – two men aged 42 and 29 and one woman aged 32.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said 'significant quantities' of the blue pills had been seized, but some pills were still in circulation.

"People in possession of these drugs are urged not to take any, and ideally drop them at a local police station or doctors/hospital," said the spokesman. "Any medication should only be taken after being issued by a registered medical practitioner."

Anyone with information about the blue pills should contact Cumbria Police on 101 immediately or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.