An investigation has been launched by Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards after officers were alerted by the Health Protection Agency, based in Huntingdon.

The woman was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital with suspected alcohol poisoning.

Trading Standards officers are investigating claims that she may have drunk counterfeit Glen's Vodka which has previously been found on sale in the county and has higher quantaties of methanol than normal.

Residents are being asked to check their bottles to make sure they are not counterfeit and if they are to contact Trading Standards at Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.

The counterfeit bottles are 70cl and can be identified as they do not have the AGC logo on the base of the bottle.

Genuine bottles of Glen's Vodka will have the AGC logo, 70cl 58mm C1 2173 embossed on the bottom.

Counterfeit bottles have been found to have the following codes embossed on the bottom:
SE607 700ml 66mm
8509 700ml 66mm
7828 700ml 66mm

The front and back labels on the counterfeit bottles bottle appear to be self-adhesive as there is no visible glue pattern.

Genuine Glen's Vodka 70cl labels are applied by a Kosme Rotary Labelling Machine using a wet adhesive which produces a distinctive glue pattern on the back of the label (horizontal lines approximately 2mm apart).

Trading standards are also warning any retailers to check their shelves and remove from sale any counterfeit bottles.

David Broughton, Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards Officer, said: "We are in the early stages of this investigation but want to warn residents to check for counterfeit vodka. It is very worrying that someone has had to be treated in hospital from possibly drinking these fake spirits.

"Please make sure that if you have a bottle of Glen's Vodka that it is not counterfeit and if it is please ring Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506. I would also like to warn people to only buy alcohol from reputable licensed premises."