A bar owner has spoken of his horror after three teenagers were rushed to hospital after taking suspected ecstasy-style pills at an under-18s disco.

Police and ambulance crews were called to Ronnie’s Bar on Mill Street, in Macclesfield town centre, at around 8.50pm on Saturday night.

Three 14-year-olds, one boy and two girls, were taken to Macclesfield Hospital.

One of the girls remains in hospital but her condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

Police and paramedics were told the trio had taken a drug known as ‘Nintendo’ and police seized a number of bright-coloured pills at the scene.


During an evacuation at the club, paramedics and police spoke to all 150 teenagers. A further three teenagers admitted taking the same drugs but did not need medical treatment.

Police were able to trace three others revellers to their homes and visited them to check they were safe.

Ronnie Rees

Owner Ronnie Rees said: “My staff came across the three kids, who seemed to be having a strange reaction to whatever they had taken.

“It was like they were having fits or seizures. Their heads were rolling around. They were conscious but they weren’t with us.

“I have never seen anything like it. It was frightening but nowhere near the seriously awful experience those children and their families have been put through.”

Nintendos are an ecstasy-style drug containing a strong dose of MDMA. The potent drug is branded with a Nintendo video game logo and first became popular on the European nightclub scene.

The monthly event, known as Audio Box, was attended by 150 teenagers.

Mr Rees, 54, said he will not be running the event for the foreseeable future.

He added: “All we ever wanted to do was cater for that age group by bringing some big name DJs to the town so they can come and dance and have a good time.

“The actions of a minority have jeopardised any other events in the future.

“We search everyone and do what we can to prevent drugs from getting onto the premises.

“Unfortunately there are people who either think they are cool or are part of some bigger criminal element that want to pedal this filth to children.”

The town's police inspector Steve Griffiths has pledged to visit schools to hammer home the message about drugs.

Cheshire Police have now issued a warning to revellers not to take the tablets.

Sergeant Adam Alexander, of Macclesfield CID, said: “We understand this has been a shocking incident to both the teenagers involved and their families.

“We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding what happened and our enquiries into this incident remain ongoing.”

Tests are now underway on the seized tablets which were a variety of colours, including red, orange, green and yellow.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident 903 of 15/11, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Two boys from Sale, aged 16 and 17, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply and have been released on bail pending further inquiries.