Police and health officials have issued a drug warning after one man died and two others were hospitalised after taking supposed ecstasy tablets.

Emergency services were called to a house in Waterloo Close, Kirkintilloch, at around 3.30pm on Saturday after the three men, aged 24, 23 and 16, fell ill.

They were taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the 24-year-old man died a short time later.

The other two remain in a serious condition, police said.

A post-mortem examination is to be held but officers believe ecstasy tablets were involved and have issued a warning.

The drugs concerned are said to have no markers on them and come either as clear capsules containing white powder or in a pink tablet form.

Detective Inspector Greig Wilkie said: "Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the men taking ill. A post-mortem will take place regarding the death of the 24-year-old man.

"One line of enquiry being pursued by officers is that a type of ecstasy may have been involved. However, this has still to be confirmed.

"Whether or not drugs have been involved in this case, I must take the opportunity to stress just how dangerous drugs are. We all know that illicit drugs are extremely dangerous, usually contain dangerous chemicals which can have an adverse effect on your health.

"People need to understand the devastating effect they can have so my advice is, don't risk it and report any information to the police."

Dr Emilia Crighton said people taking unregulated recreational drugs are "playing Russian roulette with their lives".

"No one knows exactly what these drugs contain or how strong they are," the doctor said.

"I urge anyone who feels unwell, or knows anyone who appears unwell after taking recreational drugs to seek early treatment. In particular, anyone who is hot to touch or has a high temperature, is experiencing muscle cramping, has blurred vision, is confused, agitated and feels unusually high or anxious should attended their nearest A&E department as soon as possible."

Similar warnings were issued last year about Mortal Kombat pills following the death of a 17-year-old, Regane MacColl, in a night club.

Her parents yesterday urged fellow parents to warn their children about the dangers of drugs.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy Vicki Lenaghan and Alastair MacColl revealed the horror at finding their daughter was battling for her life in hospital.

Regane, a pupil at St Peter the Apostle High School in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, who had hoped to study law at university, died in February last year, after being taken ill at the Arches Nightclub in Glasgow.

"People always think it can never happen to them - but it can," said Mr MacColl, 43.

"There is nothing worse than losing a child and I hate to think of other families going through the pain we have experienced in the past year.

"I would ask parents to sit down with their kids and be honest with them about how dangerous trying drugs just once can be.

"If anyone could see the devastation it can cause before they take something they would think twice."

Ms Lenaghan, 42, added: "Our lives will never be the same. We will have to live with this pain for the rest of our lives. Time goes on but this cannot be healed."