Child tricked into eating LSD tablet

Police say the youths were "stupid and irresponsible"

A five-year-old girl has eaten an LSD tablet after being told by a group of teenagers that it was a sweet.

Nicola O'Connor's mother found her daughter "hysterical with fear" on her doorstep at the family's home in Corby, Northamptonshire.

The medical director of paediatrics at Kettering General Hospital said the girl was "lucky to be alive".

Nicola was kept in hospital overnight and did not recover until the following morning.

'Totally irresponsible'

The incident happened shortly before 1900 BST last Thursday in the town's Arran Way.

Ahmed Mukhtar, medical director of paediatrics at the hospital, said: "LSD is a very dangerous stimulant for children because even in small quantities, it has a much greater effect.

"It increases body temperature and can lead to heart irregularities, which can be fatal."

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "This was a totally irresponsible and stupid thing to do and those involved are fortunate the consequences for little Nicola were not far more serious.

"We would ask parents to remind their children not to accept anything from strangers, in particular sweets, and if approached by someone they don't know, we would urge them to alert a known adult immediately."

He appealed for anyone who may have seen the group of youths to contact police.