A 16-year-old girl is fighting for her life today after taking the drug ecstasy during a night out with friends.

The teenager was found seriously ill in Eastleigh town centre early today.

The girl, from Eastleigh, who has not been named, was taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Acting Inspector Andy Proctor, of Hampshire Police, said: "The reaction the girl suffered may be as a result of a bad batch of ecstasy and she was admitted to intensive care as a result.

"We would like to take this as an opportunity to highlight the potential dangers of drug use and would urge anyone who is offered ecstasy or any other controlled drug to seriously think twice about accepting them in light of what has happened."

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy from Eastleigh who was being questioned about the incident.