Teenager in serious condition after falling ill at Metrolink station in Greater Manchester on Saturday afternoon

A 13-year-old boy is in serious condition in hospital after swallowing a tablet nicknamed “magic”.

The boy was taken to hospital after falling ill at Timperley Metrolink station in Greater Manchester at 4.30pm on Saturday.

The incident is the third drugs scare in the area involving 12- and 13-year-olds in the past three weeks, fuelling concerns that ecstasy pills are increasingly being marketed with child-friendly logos.

Insp John Cave of Greater Manchester police said: “It is very early stages and we are still working to establish exactly what drug he has taken. However, the boy is very poorly and we want to urge anyone who may have also taken the drug to get checked out at hospital as soon as possible.

“It is critical that young people understand the implications of taking drugs and would urge that they think twice before doing so. People taking these drugs don’t know what they contain or the effect they will have – it’s not worth the risk of ending up in hospital or even losing a life.

“If anyone is in possession of these drugs I would urge them to hand them in to the police, a chemist or other medical practitioner immediately, and if you have taken any themselves that they go to hospital as a precaution.”

Three 12-year-old girls were hospitalised last month after swallowing ecstasy “teddy tablets” at Salford Precinct shopping centre. One of the girls fell into a coma after ingesting three of the tablets apparently believing they were sweets.

Two days later, two 13-year-olds in north Manchester fell ill after taking ecstasy. Greater Manchester police have launched an investigation to try to find who supplied them the drugs.

Anyone with information about this latest incident is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.