FIVE people were taken to hospital after taking legal highs at the Parklife Weekender festival in Heaton Park.

Police said the five drank liquid poppers they bought during the two-day event, which ended last night.

Four of the five have been allowed home and the other, a 26-year-old woman, remains in hospital for treatment.

Police confiscated 400 of the poppers sold and are urging people who have bought poppers at the festival not to take them and instead hand them in at a police station.

Anyone who has taken them who shows signs of illness should seek medical assistance, police said.

Chief Inspector Gary Simpson said: “We are now extremely concerned that people are drinking poppers and this poses a significant risk to life and would urge anyone using, or considering using them or any ‘legal high’ to cease from doing so immediately, before it’s too late.

"Anyone who has consumed any of these substances is urged to seek medical help immediately.

“We are investigating the sale of these poppers and I want to stress the seriousness of selling or distributing ‘legal highs’ and warn people that we will not tolerate it.”