A BOLTON reveller said she heard “a lot of talk about drugs” at a music festival where seven people were taken ill and a teenager died from substance abuse.

A 29-year-old woman from Bolton was admitted to hospital in a critical condition on Friday after taking “powerful and dangerous” drugs at Kendal Calling.

Her health improved over the weekend, and she remains at Cumberland Infirmary in a serious but stable condition.

In total eight people became ill after taking pills at the Lake District festival – including 18-year-old Christian Pay, from Millom, who died in hospital on Friday.

A 20-year-old woman from Lancaster, a 19-year-old man from Millom and a 29-year-old man from Manchester remain in a serious but stable condition and three other men from Millom have been discharged.

Sarah Taylor travelled from Morris Green to attend the four-day festival at the Lowther Deer Park, which featured headline acts such as Snoop Dogg, Elbow and the Kaiser Chiefs.

The 31-year-old said: “We did not see much, but we heard a lot of talk about drugs.

“My boyfriend was asked on a few occasions if he was selling drugs, and we saw a lad being arrested at the main gates on Saturday.

“A few of the young girls camping next to us had taken drugs, we could hear them talking about it.

“We also spoke to a couple who had seen a girl being taken into an ambulance by stretcher.”

But another festivalgoer, 15-year-old Cerys Heard, from Horwich, said she did not notice drug-related or suspicious behaviour.

She said: “There were some people who were obviously quite out of it, but the atmosphere seemed very safe.

“I did not even realise there had been a drug abuse issue until a message was displayed on the screens about the casualties and telling everyone to stay safe.”

Cumbria Constabulary has confirmed some of the people from Millom who became ill were known to each other.

But they could not say whether the Bolton 29-year-old was part of the same group – and are now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Supt Justin Bibby said: “The death of Christian Pay, along with the number of people admitted to hospital, underlines the dangers of taking drugs.

“Our advice will always remain that you should not take any drug as you cannot be sure what it contains and the effect it will have on you.

“The criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Christian’s death is ongoing and I would appeal for anyone with any information to get in touch with police.

“Kendal Calling is a privately organised festival which saw approximately 25,000 people attend. The majority of them enjoyed the event safely.”

Over the weekend police seized five “powerful and dangerous substances” including a blue or green tablet with an Adidas logo, a yellow powder believed to be MDMA, an orange oval tablet with a Rolls Royce logo, a green tablet with a white fleck and a plain grey tablet with a white fleck.

Four men from Manchester, aged 18, 41, 44 and 54, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and released on bail. A criminal investigation is ongoing and there have been no further arrests.

A spokesman for Kendal Calling said: “We are deeply saddened that a male who attended Kendal Calling passed away at Carlisle Hospital on Friday morning.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and we are doing everything possible to support the police with their enquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.