Urgent dangerous drugs warning issued over 'Bitcoin' ecstasy tablets circulating in Manchester

An urgent dangerous drugs warning has been issued over ecstasy tablets said to be in circulation across Greater Manchester.

The yellow-coloured tablets are embossed with the letter B, said to stand for 'Bitcoin'.

Experts have said tests have shown they contain a 'variable type and content' of dangerous 'psychoactive drugs' including 4-Chloromethcathinone, or 4-CMC, which has reportedly been previously mis-sold across the city region as MDMA.

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The Manchester Drug, Analysis and Knowledge Exchange - known for short by the acronym MANDRAKE - shared details of the alert on Monday on its social media platforms and an image of the tablets concerned.

They urged anybody feeling unwell after taking any drug to seek urgent medical attention.

MANDRAKE said on Twitter: "CAUTION! 27 Feb Multiple yellow “Bitcoin” embossed #Ecstasy/#MDMA tablets, confirmed by @MANDRAKE_LAB to contain variable type/content of #psychoactive drugs (MDMA, caffeine & 4-chloromethcathinone) circulating in #Manchester.

"If unwell please seek medical attention."

No further details have been revealed.

MANDRAKE is a licenced scientific resource, based at Manchester Metropolitan University, which works in partnership with key stakeholders to facilitate rapid, robust and cost-effective chemical analysis for both harm-reduction and intelligence sharing. It's the first publicly-funded permanent city centre based testing and harm reduction facility and has been operating since 2016.

Two laboratories are in operation, with an aim to spread awareness and reduce harm to people who take drugs. The Mandrake scheme is led by Dr Oliver Sutcliffe of Manchester Metropolitan University,