CONCERNS have been raised after ‘laughing gas’ canisters were found lying around a Renfrewshire village.

Councillor Tom Begg told how he was contacted by an Inchinnan resident who has discovered a number of discarded nitrous oxide canisters while out walking in the area.

The Erskine and Inchinnan representative is now calling for police and the wider community to educate young people on the dangers of using laughing gas.

“I was extremely alarmed to hear that these canisters had been found in Inchinnan,” he told The Gazette.

“Despite often being referred to as laughing gas, they are no laughing matter. They can be extremely dangerous and we need to see a concerted effort across the community to remind people that these canisters can kill.

“Educating our youngsters in particular is absolutely vital in order to crack down on these canisters being found in this area.”

Sergeant Jo Henderson, of the community policing team based in Renfrew, said a small number of unmarked containers had been retrieved but officers were unable to confirm their original contents.

She added: “We were concerned to receive communication from Councillor Begg in relation to the reports received by him regarding these containers, as we have had no reports from members of the public.

“We will continue high-visibility patrols in the village and engage with local residents and young persons to gather further information that they may have.

“Due to lockdown, it is particularly difficult to liaise with schoolchildren regarding the dangers of substance misuse. We will ask local schools to utilise online learning to highlight the risks and would encourage parents and carers to do the same with their young people.”

For more details about the dangers posed by abusing nitrous oxide, visit www.knowthescore.info.