Three children including girl, 13, collapse after using vapes as boy, 12, arrested

THREE children collapsed after using vapes allegedly laced with drugs - and cops have now arrested a boy aged just 12.

The alarm was raised with police after a 13-year-old girl was rushed to hospital when she collapsed after using a vape.

A warning was also sent out to schools after education safeguarding chiefs said three children had become unwell in total.

Parents and teachers are now being urged to look out for the worrying symptoms following the incidents in Caerphilly and Torfaen, South Wales.

First aiders at schools in Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly borough have received advice on what to do if pupils have smoked illegal substances.

A letter was also sent to schools in Newport, Gwent, from the Newport Education Safeguarding department.

It said: “We have had two separate cases involving three children who have used a vape and become unwell.

"It is thought the vape may contain an illicit drug or toxin as when inhaled the children have become unwell and collapsed.

"At this time affected children are in the Caerphilly and Torfaen areas of Gwent. Please be cautious of similar reported cases, treating symptoms as required, reporting cases to the police and social services.”

Gwent Police said a 12-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with one of the incidents and was held in custody.

A force spokeswoman said: “We received a report of a medical emergency in Incline Road, Abersychan, Pontypool at around 9.45am on Wednesday, December 6.

"A 13-year-old girl from Blaenavon was taken to hospital for treatment and released later that day. A 12-year-old boy, from Pontypool, has been arrested on suspicion of supplying a class B drug. He remains in police custody at this time.”

It comes after Welsh health chiefs called for a ban on disposable vapes to tackle the use of e-cigarettes by young people.

Public Health Wales said disposables were "very strongly associated with rises in vaping among children and young people."