A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with possession of ecstasy and cannabis after four people allegedly ate and drank drugs left in a kettle.

Jeffrey Farquhar, of Queen Street, Darwen, was due to appear before Blackburn magistrates as neighbours prayed for the recovery of a four-year-old boy who was left seriously ill after the incident.

The boy, who has not been named, was one of four people taken to hospital after an incident in Queen Street on Monday night.

It is believed they unknowingly used a kettle containing drugs to prepare food and drink.

The women, Patricia Wilson, 21, and her twin sister Joanna, and their four-year-old sons were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary after they showed signs of having taken an overdose of a controlled drug.

Later, one of the boys was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, where his condition was initially described as serious. He later became stable.

After undergoing tests the women, one of whom is eight months pregnant and the other boy were released.

Police said one of the women was at her son's hospital bedside today

Coun Paul Browne said: "People are very upset by what has happened and I'm sure everyone will be praying the lad makes a full recovery."

Farquhar was interviewed by detectives at Greenbank police station yesterday and was charged with two counts of possessing ecstasy and cannabis.