A MAN has been bailed while police continue to investigate claims a number of women’s drinks were spiked at bars in Colchester.

The man, 44, from London was arrested after concerns were raised about three women.

Police were originally called to a woman behaving erratically at Yates’s in Head Street, Colchester in the early hours of Sunday.

A spokeswoman for Yates's said a member of door staff noticed a member of the public acting suspiciously and called the police.

She said: “We are assisting police with their enquiries."

Further investigation found reports from the SOS bus of two others with similar symptoms.

The women were aged 19 to 22.

Hospital bosses say the volume of drink and drug related admissions are proving problematic, but said it is difficult to separate people who have drunk too much or taken drugs and people whose drinks have been spiked.

Paul Searle, from the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said confirmed there was one case of drink spiking in accident and emergency at the weekend.

Police have advised people not to accept drinks from someone they do not know, to avoid going out alone, to be sensible about the amount of alcohol they consume and not to leave drinks unattended.

Anyone with information call police on 101.