A teenager has appeared in court accused of selling ecstasy to schoolchildren in Perth.
One of the youngsters is now battling for his life in an intensive care unit at Ninewells Hospital.
Police Scotland issued a drugs alert after the 15-year-old victim collapsed near a Perth primary school on Friday night.
On Monday, a 17-year-old man appeared at Perth Sheriff Court to face allegations he supplied class A drugs to the boy and three of his friends, all aged 15.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of selling tablets to the boys at land off Logie Cresent on Friday.
He made no plea during the brief, private hearing before sheriff Linda Smith and was released on bail.
All four boys are believed to have taken ecstasy, although one fell violently ill after taking a larger dose.
One of his pals phoned for an ambulance when the youngster’s behaviour became more and more alarming.
A dog walker who saw the boy screaming in pain in a field outside Goodlyburn Primary School also called 999.
It is understood that the boy’s grandfather had also phoned for police when he failed to return home.
By the time the schoolboy reached Ninewells late on Friday night he was unconscious and having serious breathing difficulties.
His family are said to be keeping a bedside vigil.
Doctors have described the boy’s condition as critical, but stable.
The three others were released from hospital after treatment on Friday night.
Police issued a warning hours later, urging people to “think twice before taking any unknown substance”.
The incident was described by local councillor Archie MacLellan as the first serious incident of this kind in Perth.
It comes just two weeks after the death of 16-year-old Shellie Callaghan, who fell seriously ill at her home in Midlothian.
At the time, officers issued a warning about tablets known as Purple Ninja Turtles and Red Bugatti Veyrons.
Schools are encouraged to highlight the dangers of drugs to children.
A council spokeswoman said: “It will be for each individual school to decide whether a special assembly will be held in relation to the serious incident that took place over the weekend.
“Pupils receive regular classes/assemblies as part of an ongoing programme of awareness education topics, including the danger of taking drugs.”
