A young woman has died and two men were left fighting for their lives in hospital after taking MDMA at two nightclubs in south London, police said.

The 22-year-old Vietnamese woman became seriously ill after taking drugs with some friends at Crystals nightclub in New Cross over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Scotland Yard said police were called to an address in Knights Hill, West Norwood shortly before 11pm on Monday, August 28.

She was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead just over 12 hours later.

One of the woman’s friends, a Vietnamese man aged in his 20s, was also taken to hospital in a critical condition. He has since improved and been discharged from hospital.

Police said the group were believed to have taken drugs while at the club on Sunday night.

In the early hours of this Sunday morning (September 3), a 17-year-old man, also a Vietnamese national, became seriously ill after taking MDMA at Electric nightclub in Brixton.

He was taken to hospital at about 5am when he remained in a critical condition.

It is believed several other people became ill at the Electric venue having taken what they believed to be MDMA, but left the venue without calling emergency service.

A Met spokesman said: “Analysis of a small number of pills seized by police from the address in Knights Hill showed that they contained MDMA and Ketamine.

“Both the deceased and the man now discharged from hospital are believed to have bought and taken these substances while at Crystals nightclub.

“The pills are orange and rectangular, with no distinctive markings on them.”

Police issued a warning to the public in the wake of the incidents.

A Met spokesman added: “Police are warning members of the public - especially those in south London and specifically those in the Vietnamese and South-East Asian community - to take great care in respect of buying and taking MDMA/ecstasy.

“Anyone who has taken these substances and feels unwell is advised to seek medical treatment.”

“There is always a risk that people may suffer ill-effects through taking illegal drugs, and the clear advice of police and medical professionals is not to take such substances.”

Anyone with information relating to the supply of illegal drugs, especially at these venues and within this community, should call Lambeth CID via 101 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.