THESE are the "killer" ecstasy tablets suspected of causing the death of a 42-year-old mother and leaving two other people seriously ill.

Sheena Fenton collapsed and died at her home in Green Street East, Darwen, after taking what is believed to be a dangerous batch of the "designer" drug.

She died before paramedics were able to reach her on Friday afternoon.

Two other people are also seriously ill after taking some of the pink, heart-shaped pills.

Today police warned drug users not to take the tablets.

Officers are desperately trying to track down the dealer who sold them in a bid to ensure no more of the suspected killer batch gets into circulation.

Inspector David Mangan said: "I cannot stress enough that these drugs are extremely dangerous and we need to remove them from the street as a matter of urgency.

"Under no circumstances should anybody take any tablets of this nature and if offered them they should contact the police.

"We desperately need to find out who supplied these drugs and where they came from to prevent any more getting into circulation.

"At the moment we have no idea what the problem with the tablets is - whether they are just a very strong batch or whether there is something else in them.

"We have also identified two further individuals who we believe have taken similar tablets - these are completely separate cases, the individuals did not know one another."

Detectives, who found a small amount of ecstasy at Ms Fenton's home, are awaiting results of a post mortem examination.

And Inspector Mangan said that, although the public perception of ecstasy users was of clubbers and teenagers, people of all ages and walks of life take the drug recreationally.

He said: "She Ms Fenton seems to be one of them. We can't comment on what made her take them."

Ecstasy is a Class A drug. Possession can lead to up to seven years in jail and supplying someone else can result in a life sentence.

Pure Ecstasy is a white crystalline powdered form of the drug MDMA but pills bought on the street are rarely pure because it is cheaper to make them with amphetamine, caffeine and household cleaning substances.

One tablet costs between £3 and £8.

There have been over 200 ecstasy related deaths in the UK since 1996. Some have been linked to other drugs which have been sold as ecstasy.

Ms Fenton's partner was too distressed to talk abouther death but a neighbour aid: "I am very sorry to hear about what has happened. I only spoke to her in passing, but she was always very nice."

Another said: "I saw the ambulance turn up and then the police, but I had no idea what had happened. I found out later that she had died, it's a terrible shame."

Anybody with any information should call police on 01254 51212.