A TEENAGER needed urgent hospital treatment at the weekend after inhaling excessive amounts of 'laughing gas'.

The youngster, who has since been discharged, was rushed to A&E after consuming a large amount of the nitrous oxide while out with friends in Warrington.

Police have since warned of the dangers of inhaling the 'laughing gas' after hundreds of canisters have been found dumped around Penketh, Cuerdley and Chapelford in recent weeks.

The bottles, which had contained the potentially dangerous substance, have now been cleared from around the area by a PCSO after concerns were raised by a member of the public.

Sgt Paul Flynn said: "We have spoken to a number of young people about this and they have been buying it online.

"It's dangerous – we've already had one male in hospital over the weekend for excessive use.

"We have been confiscating the canisters and doing what we can to educate them about the dangers.

"The problem is that many people don't realise how deadly it can be."

Officers are now targeting problem areas in particular Dakota Park to tackle the issue.

While the capsules have several legitimate uses such as in cookery equipment to make whipped cream, the consumption of the substance can have fatal consequences as users are at risk of asphyxiation.

The law states that it is illegal for the canisters to be sold for recreational purposes, but they can be bought on the dark web.

FRANK, a confidential drug advice service, advises people to steer clear of nitrous oxide.

The website states: “Nitrous oxide is a gas with several legitimate uses, but when inhaled it can make people feel euphoric and relaxed.

"This happy feeling has led to it being nicknamed ‘laughing gas’.

"Some people also experience hallucinations. However, there is a risk of death as a lack of oxygen can occur when using nitrous oxide.

"This risk is likely to be greater if the gas is consumed in an enclosed space or if a substantial amount is rapidly used.”