A woman was taken to hospital last night following an incident at a parade of shops in Ipswich.

A WOMAN was “rushed” to hospital tonight following an incident behind a parade of shops in Ipswich.

The woman, who one witness said looked to be about 40 years old, was taken to Ipswich Hospital after collapsing in a car park behind the shops and flats above in Cambridge Drive, Chantry.

Police officers were called to the scene at about 7pm after reports of a suspicious man and woman at the back of the shops.

When ambulance crews arrived, after being alerted by police, they discovered one female lying on the ground at the scene.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said they were initially called to attend to two people lying on the road, but upon arrival there was just one casualty at the scene.

He said: “We treated the female at the scene and rushed her into hospital.”

Police officers, aided by the police helicopter, were searching for the man, who was seen with the woman.

A man was arrested at about 7.30pm in Alderlee, just a few roads away from the scene, on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug. He has also been taken to hospital.

Witnesses at the scene said there were about 10 police cars and two ambulance vehicles with their sirens blazing called to the area just after 7pm.