Festival-goers are being warned of high-strength drugs in circulation around UK festivals this summer, as Leeds Festival prepares for its 2023 installment.
The MDMA warning, from drugs charity The Loop, comes ahead of a huge weekend for live music, with Reading & Leeds Festival and Manchester Pride Festival taking place simultaneously.
The Loop has said that pills tested at other UK festivals this summer have contained between 84mg and 230mg of MDMA, averaging one and a half doses per pill.
Some Ecstasy tablets tested have contained double doses, or even higher.
The charity also warned of one particular high-strength pill – an orange Tesla pill – that has been implicated in two nightclub deaths.
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The Loop posted this morning ‘Take quarter sip water’ and advised that people wait 90 minutes before re-dosing.
The charity wrote: “MDMA can raise your body temperature, so take regular breaks from dancing.
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“Seek medical help if you experience any of the following: significantly raised temperature, excessive sweating, muscle rigidity, non-responsiveness or seizure.”
Please take care this weekend. Ecstasy pills vary in strength & could contain 2+ doses. Pills tested at UK festivals this summer contained 84-230mg MDMA, averaging 149mg (~1½ doses). Orange Teslas (230mg) were implicated in 2 nightclub deaths. Seek medical attention if unwell. pic.twitter.com/KQi88rvuw9
Their full post added: “Please take care this weekend.
“Ecstasy pills vary in strength & could contain 2+ doses. Pills tested at UK festivals this summer contained 84-230mg MDMA, averaging 149mg (~1½ doses).”
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Their warning comes just two days after a coroner said he feared more young people would die due to drugs at festivals.
Coroner Kevin McLoughlin had been speaking at the inquest into the death of David Celino, 16, who died after taking drugs at Leeds Festival last year.
David Celino, who died from drugs at Leeds Festival 2022. Credit: West Yorkshire Police
David was described as a ‘beautiful, fiercely independent’ teen by his heartbroken family after his tragic death.
Parklife co-founder Sacha Lord has also written to the Home Office this week urging it legalise pop-up drug testing – like the work carried out by The Loop – at festivals.
Currently drugs testing providers can only be issued with a Home Office licence if they have a specific, named, permanent premises, rather the portacabins that are commonplace at festival sites.
Beloved local comedian Justin Moorhouse pays touching tribute to son Barney
Daisy Jackson
Justin Moorhouse has shared a touching tribute to his son, after announcing over the weekend that Barney had passed away.
The much-loved Tameside comedian wrote that the family are ‘besides themselves with grief’, before later sharing some of his favourite memories of his son, who was in his 20s.
Justin Moorhouse, who starred in Phoenix Nights and just recently performed at the Manchester Opera House on his ‘The Greatest Performance of My Life’ tour, described his son as ‘the sweetest, kindest soul’.
He wrote that Barney ‘just went to sleep and didn’t wake up’.
Following the heartbreaking news, Justin shared three of his fondest memories with his son, including a Flaming Lips gig in Leeds, Bleachers at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, and a trip to the US.
He wrote: “Some of my favourite memories of Barney are music gigs. I am so lucky to have enjoyed loads of stuff he did and obviously hates loads too!
“Luckily, he didn’t think I was too awkward to hang out with at gigs… How lucky I’ve been to have him.”
On Saturday, Justin Moorhouse shared: “It is with the heaviest of hearts I have to tell you our beautiful boy Barney has passed away. Me, his mum and step mum, his sister, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents and his gorgeous friends are besides ourselves with grief.
“I am consoling myself as much as I can knowing that he loved us all and knew we loved him.
“He was so happy, content and excited about the future. The sweetest, kindest soul.
“He just went to sleep and didn’t wake up.
“I can’t imagine how the next days and weeks will unfold but I know we are able to cope – love always helps.
“I am him and he is me. Sleep tight Barney. Dad x
“Appreciate your kindness and sensitivity towards the family at this time.”
Government officially approves Eton’s plan to ‘remove barriers’ and open new FREE college in Oldham
Emily Sergeant
Eton’s plans to open a new free college in Oldham will officially go ahead following Government approval this week.
In case you need bringing up to speed a bit, plans for three new post-16 colleges – with the other two being in Dudley and Middlesborough – that are designed to help give young people who’ve done well in their GCSEs the opportunity to achieve the A-Levels they need to go to Oxbridge and other elite universities across the world were first announced back in March 2022, and then given the green light in August 2023.
Eton has partnered with Star Academies – which is said to be the highest-performing state school trust in the country – for the new colleges.
The colleges will aim to recruit ‘dynamic young people from deprived communities’, including in Oldham, and provide them with a ‘rigorous and rounded education’ that supports their ambitions to achieve places at ‘the very best universities’.
Oldham Council has welcomed the news that the new college – set to be named Eton Star Oldham – will go ahead, after the Government confirmed the conclusion of its national review into the proposals.
The decision means that Oldham will become one of the first places in the country to offer this new education model that combines high standards with strong partnerships and expanded opportunities for local young people.
The Government has officially approved Eton’s plan to open a new free college in Oldham / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Approval means pupils from every background will soon have access to the ‘very best’ opportunities.
Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Coucil, said this is ‘great news’ for Oldham, adding: “Eton Star Oldham will give our young people access to life-changing opportunities, no matter their background or where they start in life.
“We have been clear throughout that this must be a college shaped with our young people, our parents and our communities.
“Now that the Government has confirmed it will go ahead, we will work closely with Eton College and Star Academies to make sure this delivers for Oldham’s children and opens doors for generations to come.”
Daisy Jackson -
24th August 2023 
