ELEVEN people have been admitted to hospital after taking 'legal highs' in East Lothian in the last two months.

Police Scotland has issued a warning about the growing use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), as the legal highs are known, after a string of incidents.

And they warned the number of people needing hospital treatment may be far higher since many victims do not admit to have taken anything.

Police in East Lothian have appealed to members of the public to report any shop or business they see selling NPS even though the sales themselves are legal.

Many of the substances, which are snorted or smoked like illegal drugs, are marketed as bathsalts or plantfeed.

Police said the majority of people who ended up in hospital from East Lothian came from Musselburgh and the surrounding area.

But other cases have been reported across the county.

Detective Superintendent Pat Campbell said: “We strongly advise people to avoid taking NPS. You can never be sure of what they may contain, what their strength may be or how they may affect you.

“There is no ‘safe’ amount to take and no ‘safe’ way of taking them.

“The dangers and risks to health, or indeed life, associated with the consumption of all drugs are significant in themselves, however this is increased further when you mix different drug types together, or when mixed with alcohol.

“We cannot stress highly enough that anyone taking any illicit drug or New Psychoactive Substance is potentially putting their life at risk.” “Anyone who has taken a substance and who feels unwell should seek urgent medical advice.” If you have any information in relation to New Psychoactive Substances you can contact the police on 101 or alternatively report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”