More than a million bottles of Coca-Cola and other drinks have been recalled in South Korea amid fears that some have been deliberately poisoned.The firm which bottles Coca-Cola drinks in Korea said it had withdrawn about 40,000 cases of Coke and other brands from three southern provinces.

Traces of poison have been found in three bottles, and police have arrested a woman in connection with the case.

A man is in hospital after drinking from one of the suspect bottles.

Health priority

Australian-based Coca-Cola Amatil - which bottles Coke drinks across Asia and Australasia - said it had voluntarily recalled the products on public health grounds.

A woman in her 40s has been detained on suspicion of deliberately contaminating some Coke bottles.

She is alleged to have posted messages on the company’s website threatening action unless she was paid 2bn won ($2m; £1.08m).

The firm said the recall was limited to areas around the cities of Gwangju, Hwasun and Damyang.

“We will conduct the recall right away in accordance with company guidelines that put top priority on consumer health and safety,” it said.

Coca-Cola sells about 60 million cases of drinks a year in South Korea.