INVESTIGATIONS are continuing to find three syringes full of anaesthetics that disappeared at a controversial hospital.

Police issued a warning on Thursday that the drugs are lethal after they were reported missing from the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City.

The drugs had been prepared for an operation in the maternity department that subsequently did not take place.

A spokesman for County Dur-ham and Darlington Health Authority said last night: "The internal investigations are still being carried out.

"These drugs, although they are not controlled drugs, are anaesthetics and are dangerous if they are used.

"They were prepared for an elective caesarian operation, but were not used."

The spokesman said that no one could later account for what had happened to the drugs, and an investigation was launched.

"Statements have been taken from all staff members involved," said the spokesman.

Asked if they could have been stolen, the spokesman said: "We don't know. They are unaccounted for.

"It is possible they have been disposed of."

The drugs - atropine, thio-tenone and suxamethonium - are clear liquids and police said their effect could be lethal.

The incident is another embarrassment for bosses at the £97m new hospital, which opened earlier this year.

The hospital, which was built under a private finance initiative and is run by the North Durham Health Care NHS Trust, has been embroiled recently in controversies over a critical audit report and the decision not to re-appoint trust chairman Kevin Earley.