Up to 70 people are feared dead and more than 800 have been hospitalised after bars mistakenly sold methanol in Leon, Oxford's twin city in Nicaragua.

Rogue traders have been blamed for the crisis, which has left many young people badly injured - some permanently blinded.

The authorities are still unsure who to blame for the medical crisis, but it is understood criminals sold industrial spirit to unsuspecting local bar owners.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Oxford's link to Leon, the university city of Nicaragua - the poorest country in Latin America.

But recently the Oxford-Leon Link has funded and coordinated a massive emergency campaign that has seen thousands of leaflets dropped in the university city warning those living there to avoid alcohol for fear of widening the epidemic.

About 10,000 leaflets are being distributed in 12 different communities in and around Leon.

The leaflet distribution is accompanied by public announcements, word of mouth, press releases and radio adverts and was all part of the lead-up to a major public holiday celebration called San Jeronimo.

And this week Oxford's city councillors suggested the Town Hall's environmental health officers be put on standby in case there is anything they can do to help.

Oxford Lord Mayor Jim Campbell said: "The poison is also believed to have spread to other products.

"Just think if one person died of this in Oxford - in many senses this shows the inequality of the world."

May Wylie, of the Oxford-Leon Link, added: "This is a serious issue - those who are injured are badly injured, some blinded."