Malmesbury police today issued a warning to parents after drugs looking similar to ecstasy were found at a music festival near the town.

A spokesman for Malmesbury police said: "Today, whilst patrolling a music festival near Malmesbury, a PCSO was handed blue pills by the security guards.

" They had been found lying on the ground by staff clearing up litter. The festival was attended by families including children and these pills could easily have been picked up by a member of the public.

"The pills bear a resemblance to ecstasy, which is a drug that has proved to be very harmful to some people that have consumed them in the past. Apart from being illegal, these drugs pose a real danger to the public, especially children.

"We would like to warn anyone attending these types of events to be aware that drugs may be lying around and to ensure their children are aware of the dangers of consuming pills, even if they believe them to be “safe”. Any drugs found at these festivals should be handed to the Security Team, at the event, for destruction."