THE death of a 10-year-old girl in Lancaster may have been caused by the drug ecstacy, police say.

Jade Catherine Slack of Meadow Park, Galgate, was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary yesterday afternoon after complaining of feeling unwell.

She died at around 7pm.

Jade had spent the afternoon with a friend the same age at a house on Salford Road in the village.

Three people, two women and a man, aged 18 to 21, have been arrested and are being questioned by Lancaster Police after what are believed to be ecstacy tablets were found at the house.

Det Supt Ian Jones said: "We cannot confirm that the death was as a result of drugs but that is obviously a strong line of inquiry."

"We have recovered articles from the house and from one of the people in custody.

"We have reason to believe this may be ecstasy."

A Home Office pathologist carried out a post-mortem on Sunday night and toxicology tests were also carried out.

Results are expected in the next few days.

The family is said to be too distressed to make a statement at this stage.