A 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were taken to hospital after falling ill in a suspected drugs incident at a school in North Ayrshire.

The youngsters were taken to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock after they became unwell at the secondary on Monday.

They were later discharged and a police probe has been launched into the incident.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that we received a report on Monday of two pupils, a 12 year-old girl and a 13 year-old boy, at a North Ayrshire school having taken unwell following what is believed to be an incident of drugs misuse.

"Both were taken to Crosshouse Hospital for observations before being released. Enquiries are continuing."

The incident follows a police warning about the dangers of taking "ecstasy-type tablets" after recent cases involving teenagers.

Shellie Callaghan, 16, died last month after taking ill at a house party in Newtongrange, Midlothian.

A fortnight later, a 15-year-old boy from Perth was left in a critical condition in hospital after allegedly taking tablets with friends.

Two days later, another 15-year-old boy from Perth was taken to hospital after taking "unknown substances" in an unrelated incident.

A 13-year-old Glasgow schoolgirl was taken to hospital on October 26 after a suspected drugs overdose.