Teenager seriously ill after taking possible 'Mortal Kombat' ecstasy pill at house party

The pills contains the illegal substance PMA

Mortal Kombat pills are red with a dragon imprint (Police Scotland)

A teenager is seriously ill after taking what may have been a Mortal Kombat ecstasy pill, police have said.

The 16-year-old is in intensive care after falling ill following a house party in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on Saturday. He is said to be in a serious but stable condition.

Tests were also being carried out in a 17-year-old boy who also became unwell.

The pair attended Monklands District General Hospital in Airdrie at about 11.30pm having apparently taken illegal drugs.

Police Scotland said they believe the drugs included ecstasy and "possibly" a Mortal Kombat tablet.

Warnings issued about the red pills, which are imprinted with a dragon, following the death of 17-year-old Regane MacColl last month have been renewed.

Miss MacColl, from Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire, died after taking one of the tablets at Glasgow nightspot The Arches on 1 February.

An NHS Lanarkshire spokeswoman said: "Anyone who has taken ecstasy - particularly the one described as Mortal Kombat, and who is feeling unwell, or who knows someone who has taken this type of drug in the past few hours, should attend or contact their local hospital for treatment and advice."

Detective Inspector Debbie Johnstone, of Coatbridge CID, said: "Illicit drugs are dangerous. I would ask that anyone with information about the supply of drugs, in particular, the type described as Mortal Kombat, contact police."

Mortal Kombat pills are thought to contain para-Methoxyamphetamin – better known as PMA.

It is five times stronger than MDMA, the main ingredient in ecstasy, but takes longer to kick in, meaning users often take extra pills to boost the effects.