TWO brothers found dead in a room above a Stoneclough pub are thought to have taken a lethal dose of a dangerous new batch of the drug MDMA.

The bodies of Jacques and Torin Lakeman, from the Isle of Man, were discovered above The Grapes pub in Market Street on Monday afternoon.

Police have ruled out murder, saying the deaths were not suspicious, and have indicated that the brothers did not commit suicide.

It now appears that the pair died after taking an overdose of MDMA bought on the internet.

The new batch of the drug on the market has a delayed effect, meaning people can take it and get no immediate reaction, which prompts them to take more.

MDMA, or methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, is the active ingredient in ecstasy tablets, but can also be taken in liquid or crystalline form.

Torin, aged 19, was a physics student at Aberystwyth University while Jacques, aged 20, is believed have most recently been living in London.

Police in Wales contacted Torin's university asking them to issue a warning of the dangers of the MDMA in the wake of a "student suffering a fatal overdose in Manchester".

It is understood that the warnings relate to Torin's death, and police say the drugs must not be consumed and should be handed in to them to be destroyed.

Greater Manchester Police has ended its investigation, with the deaths passed over to the coroner. Neither brother's inquest has opened yet.

It is believed that officers locally will try to establish where the drugs came from if post-mortem examination reports confirm that they played a role in the deaths.

Tributes have been paid to the pair from their former school in the town of Port St Mary in the south of the Isle of Man.

Tutors described Jacques as "intelligent and talented", and Torin as a "caring individual who would do anything for anybody".

Professor Qiang Shen, director of the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science at Aberystwyth University, said: "Torin was an intelligent student, achieving some excellent grades during his first year, particularly in applied Physics and Astronomy modules.

"He will be sadly missed, and fondly remembered by staff and students."