‘Laughing gas’ continues to to be a 'nusiance' in Bexley, according to a councillor who questioned what steps are being tackled to combat the high.

Nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, is inhaled from silver canisters into balloons in order to achieve a 'high'.

It is illegal to supply or import the gas for human consumption but Bexley Council still faces pressure to crack down on it being used in streets.

Councillor Alan Deadman asked the councillor for community safety what steps he is taking alongside the police to tackle laughing gas.

Cllr Deadman said: “Laughing gas continues to be a nuisance for residents across the borough and continues to add to the pressures on street cleanliness.”

Nitrous oxide starves the brain of oxygen to create a “buzz” and the silver canisters used cost money to be cleaned up if left on the street.

Cllr Craske, the cabinet member who responded to the question, said reducing substance misuse crime and antisocial behaviour was adopted as a new priority for Bexley Community Safety Partnership earlier this year.

He said a new group would also be established later in the year and complaints will be monitored.

He said: “A working group will be established in the autumn from a range of partners to look at substance misuse related issues and to better understand how they can be tackled.

"We are continuing to monitor numbers of complaints and ensure that as far as possible, cleansing departments are pro-active in their response to residents’ complaints.

“We are working with Neighbourhood Watch to encourage their members to make reports to police and LBB when they witness use of psychoactive substances in their neighbourhoods.

“In areas where anti-social behaviour is being prioritised we will monitor the use of such substances, with our partners, as part of the problem solving process if required.

“This includes identifying young people at risk of harm through use of nitrous oxide, making parents aware of risks to their children’s health and where appropriate making referrals to partner agencies.”

Dana Wiffen, the chairman of the neighbourhood watch in Bexley, said problems can arise whilst people are high,

Mr Wiffen said: “It is a short fix, it is not serious drug taking but whilst they are high they can behave in an anti-social manor.

“They can commit vandalism, and when they are done they leave these silver canisters all over the street.

“We get reports all the time of it.

“Often it is in car parks or woods where people can’t see them when they are high. We want people to report all instances to police.”