‘Laughing gas’ cannisters found in park

SCORES of dangerous ‘laughing gas’ canisters have been dumped close to a Bedworth children’s play area and park.

The metal containers were spotted left littered in the Miners Welfare Park.

It is understood the cannisters, which contain ‘laughing gas’, were empty and have simply been left abandoned, along with their boxes, at the park, near to Bedworth Leisure Centre.

It has become a dangerous craze for people to use the Co2 cannisters, normally used for pain relief, as a way of getting high.

Warnings have been made about the dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide as it can lead to a drop in blood pressure, fainting and even a heart attack.

Laughing gas was made illegal to sell for human consumption, along with other so-called legal highs, last year.

But it is freely advertised online, generally for the production of whipped cream.

Websites selling it state that it is only available for over-18s and is for food and beverage preparation only.

Between 2006 and 2012 there were 17 deaths in the UK related to the use of laughing gas, according to research.

The majority of those deaths are said to be down to asphyxiations caused by people using plastic bags to inhale the gas. When people use cannisters, the gas can be very cold and can burn.

A cold shock in the throat can also affect the vagus nerve and cause a sudden slowing of the heart rate but deaths are said to be low in comparison with the numbers who use the drug. It’s a colourless gas. Some users have noted it has a slightly sweet smell and taste.

It is usually bought in pressured canisters - you may have seen these litter the floor at a music festival.