An urgent investigation is underway after a potentially dangerous cocktail of drugs and needles was discovered on a west end beach -- becoming the latest in a series of sightings in recent weeks.

Health officials are trying to establish where the pills, some of which are thought to be anti-psychotic medicine, and other medical supplies have come from after concerns from residents.

Environmental health officers have launched a full-scale probe into the findings, after receiving similar reports from beaches and bays across the Island.

But the latest sighting has caused most concern, with parents worried children could come across bottles of pills, syringes or other hazardous items found in sizable numbers on one west end bay.

Chief environmental health officer Estlyn Harvey is now trying to establish where the items have come from and how much more could be heading towards the Island's shores.

"I need to know what else might be there,'' she said. "We don't want them to get in the wrong hands. People should hand them into the Police or a clinic, and we will dispose of it -- do not put them in the trash.'' The find is the latest in a series of discoveries, which until now have included items in sealed bags, but is more worrying with loose bottles, vials and some open containers being located.

A five-minute search by a Royal Gazette photographer on an easily-accessible west end bay reaped dozens of items washed up.

And a nearby resident, concerned for the safety of her two-year old grand-daughter, found similar medical supplies on her own beach.

The goods are all brand new and are thought to have come from a sunken container, washed off a vessel in the north Atlantic. But there is another theory that they were out of date and dumped off the US east coast.

A Police spokesman said: "We encourage people to be vigilant and if they find them to report it to us.'' Margie Smith, a visitor at Willowbank guest house in Somerset, also found items in the west end.

Drugs found on west end beach She said: "I was taking a walk with my husband and we saw a lot of IV bottles and needles strewn across the small beach areas. I was concerned that children might wander onto the beach and pick them up.'' Barnacle-covered prescription drugs, were among some of the items Police have collected in the washed-up debris.

Earlier, Estlyn Harvey confirmed that she had received some of the items but noted that they were unused and intact.

"I am gathering items here,'' she said. "They are washing ashore unused and intact in their protective wrapping.'' "No pills or medication have been turned in to me, but I have received needles and IVs. The Hospital has agreed to dispose of them,'' she continued.

Revealing that the items are safe to pick up, Ms Harvey encouraged members of the public to do so and to discard them "so that they do not get into the wrong hands''.

Parks rangers have been keeping a watchful eye for suspect items but director Candy Foggo confirmed that her staff could only check those that were public beaches.

Harbour Radio said there had been no reports from vessels in the area that a container had been lost, adding that it would be the responsibility of the ship to contact nearby Islands in the event of an accident.