Ecstasy horror of boy aged 3

A three-year-old boy is fighting for life today after a suspected ecstasy overdose.

It is believed the toddler had taken a tablet at his north London home, possibly mistaking it for a sweet.

Emergency services arrived to find the child desperately ill and lifeless and battled to revive him.

He was taken by ambulance to intensive care at a nearby hospital at 12.40 yesterday afternoon from his home in Elizabeth Avenue, Islington.

His condition was described as critical last night, although he improved slightly overnight. Today he is in a serious but stable condition.

Medical experts are carrying out a series of tests to establish whether the boy took the drug.

Police removed a substance from the home, believed to be ecstasy, which has been sent for analysis. One officer said today: "We are working on the assumption this was an ecstasy overdose. We think he may have thought it was a sweet. The child was discovered in a limp condition when paramedics arrived and was rushed to hospital.

"He was in a very bad way. His condition has improved but he is still very ill."

The boy's father has been arrested and is being questioned by detectives at the local police station.

Less than two weeks ago 10-year-old Jade Slack died after taking ecstasy in the village of Galgate, near Lancaster.

The previous youngest child to have died from taking ecstasy was 13-year-old Andrew Woodlock, from Lanarkshire, who went into a coma after taking up to three tablets.