A GROUP of 10 Merseyside schoolchildren were taken to hospital with suspected drug overdoses.

The alarm was raised when the teens, aged 13 to 15, began being sick yesterday morning at St George of England High School, Bootle.

Paramedics were called to the Fernhill Road site and the pupils were taken to hospital.

It is understood they were suffering from effects similar to a Diazepam overdose. The drug, more commonly known as Valium, is used to treat anxiety. A 13-year-old girl and a 44-year-old woman were arrested by police over the incident as an investigation was launched.

All of the children were released from hospital yesterday afternoon after being treated for sickness and drowsiness.

Each pupil thought to be involved was spoken to and assessed by medical staff before being allowed home.

Pupils at St George’s, which Sefton council wants to close by 2013, were due to have a half day yesterday because it was the end of the school year.

Supt Julie Cooke, of Merseyside police, said: “This was a serious incident. The school acted very quickly, together with the emergency services to ensure the safety and well being of the pupils involved.”