Hazardous response team dispatched to village after 13 metal detectorists fed ‘cannabis cakes’

A 48-year-old woman has been arrested in connection to the incident

'After learning from this event, ladies and gents, its back to the crunch of stubble, sun cream, and making a colossal contribution to our heritage,' says editor of Treasure Hunting Magazine (Getty)

A group of metal detectorists have been treated in hospital after unwittingly eating cakes spiked with cannabis.

When 13 men and women all began to feel unwell at the metal detecting rally in in the village of High Melton near Doncaster in South Yorkshire on Saturday. A large fleet of emergency services and medical experts were called to the scene, including a Hazardous Area Response Team, eight ambulances and a rapid response vehicle.

A 48-year-old woman from County Durham has been arrested in relation to the incident, and has since been released on bail.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service treated two people at the scene and said the group had become unwell after “ingesting an unknown substance”.

A police investigation is now underway.

Julian Evan-Hart, the editor of metal detecting publication Treasure Hunting Magazine, said it was “an inconsiderate, irresponsible, stupid and foolish thing to ‘spike’” other people’s food or drink and said “those responsible must be punished”.

He said the incident was not “a poor reflection on our hobby”, and suggested it was “a case of random lunacy”.

In a later update, he wrote on Facebook: “I have heard all affected are now well again and that is the only thing that is now important.

“So after learning from this event, ladies and gents its back to the crunch of stubble, sun cream, and making a colossal contribution to our heritage.”

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: “An investigation is underway after a group of people fell ill as a result of eating something reportedly containing cannabis during an event in the High Melton area of Doncaster.

“The group, of both men and women, were taken to hospital at about 7pm on Saturday 24 August. All have since been discharged.

“A 48-year-old woman from County Durham was arrested in connection to the incident and has since been bailed whilst enquiries continue.

“Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 835 of 24 August 2019.”