Kingston High Street closed as five men collapse after 'taking dodgy drugs'

Police blocked off the street at around 3pm after receiving reports of the men slumping to ground and 'fitting'

The high street was closed off on Wednesday afternoon following the incident (BigBrownTeddy/Twitter)

A south London high street was closed by police as five men collapsed in the street after taking “dodgy drugs”.

Officers were called to Kingston town centre on Wednesday afternoon following reports of the men slumped on ground and “fitting”.

The men, believed to be in their mid to late 30s, are said to have taken the same batch of drugs and “suffered a reaction”.

Kingston Police - who originally reported that four men had been taken ill - tweeted no other members of the public were believed in be involved or were at risk.

A Met spolesman initially told the London Evening Standard the men had "shared some sort of drug and the drug has obviously been bad or dodgy".

They were treated at the scene and four were later referred to hospital in West London.

One witness, David Stewart, told The Standard: "There was a huge police and ambulance presence.

"I saw one of the guys be loaded into an ambulance. He looked sedated and the ambulance stayed with him for about 25 minutes, and then shot off to hospital at high speed."

A police spokesman later told the Independent: "Police in Kingston were called to Adams Walk, Eden Street at 14:52hrs on Wednesday, 27 January following concerns of the welfare of five men.

"Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. Four of the five men required treatment and were taken to west London hospitals for assessment.

"One line of enquiry is that the men may have taken drugs and suffered a reaction.

"The investigation is ongoing".