POLICE believe bodybuilders are being illegally sold a potentially fatal batch of insulin at gyms in East Lancashire.

The revelation comes after the death of 44-year-old Shane Raeburn, of Barnes Street, Clayton-le-Moors.

Police believe he may have taken the drug after one of his friends who did was left fighting for his life in the Royal Blackburn Hospital. Another has since recovered after it is believed they took insulin.

Neither Mr Raeburn nor his friends were diabetics.

But Det Chief Inspector Paul Withers, who is leading the investigation, said he feared the ampuoles, which are used to hold liquid insulin which is then injected, were being sold illegally by drug peddlers in gyms across East Lancashire.

Internet sites detail how bodybuilders have started using insulin because they feel it can help muscle gain.

Mr Withers said that just one 10ml ampoule of insulin could cause non-diabetics to lapse into unconsciousness, a coma and could even prove fatal.

He said: "These ampoules maybe being used as body building steriods or viewed as a pick me up.

"We are investigating the source of the ampoules, but people could possibly be buying them illegally through people in gyms or from people who are diabetics.

"I think people need to be aware of the risks and be extremely careful."

Three people - a 40-year-old woman and a man, 30, both from Clayton-le-Moors, and a 19-year-old man from Accrington - have been arrested in connection with the inquiry and realised on bail pending further inquiries.

A post-mortem examination on Mr Raeburn proved inconclusive and further tests are to be carried out in a bid to establish why he died.

Mandy Knight, of Barnes Street, who knew Burnley FC fan Mr Raeburn for over 20 years, paid tribute to him.

The 44-year-old said: "He is still in our hearts and will be greatly missed by everyone.

"I just want to tell him he will never walk alone."

A number of gyms across East Lancashire declined to comment on police's comments about peddlers selling insulin.

But Philip Wasell, owner of Muscle Mania on Victoria Street, Accrington, said: "I haven't heard of insulin in capsule form but I do know that some pro body builders will inject it about 15 minutes after training.

"But there's no point in taking insulin without something such as growth hormone, which is extremely expensive and difficult to get hold of, or some stupid steroids.

"I think people who take it are stupid because they're playing with their lives"

And Mike Caldwell, Leisure Centre manager at Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, said: "We don't condone that sort of things here.

"If we found someone doing that, we would cancel their membership."

Mr Raeburn died in the early hours of last Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the drugs should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.