A MAN has spoken of his shock after finding a bag of ‘laughing gas’ canisters dumped at the roadside.

Duncan Hall came across 22 full canisters of nitrous oxide, more commonly known as ‘laughing gas’, left on Mill Lane, between Hawksworth and Baildon Moor, when he was driving in his van.

After researching what they were online, he returned to the scene the following morning and collected them up in his van.

Nitrous oxide is sometimes used recreationally as a legal high. There have been a number of deaths linked to use of laughing gas, and side-effects can include headaches, unconsciousness, anaemia, incontinence and depleted bone marrow.

It is illegal to sell the drug for human consumption.

Mr Hall, of Addingham, who spotted the canisters on Monday night, has warned people to be vigilant if they come across similar gas canisters.

He said: “It is the first time I have seen anything like this. It is extremely dangerous. I was absolutely disgusted to find them.

“I know there is going to be a child, somewhere, affected by this. It is so sad.

“If it helps to save somebody’s life, then it will be worth me getting them off the road.”

Mr Hall’s concern was shared by councillors in Baildon.

Les Vasey, chairman of Baildon Town Council’s community committee, said it is working with groups including the police on issues related to drugs misuse. He said: “There is widespread concern about substance misuse, largely about legal highs.

“We have not had any reports of these types of activity in Baildon. But we do have a community safety committee with the police and youth services. We all work together to work in partnership to look at community safety issues in Baildon that concern young people.

“It may not be connected to Baildon. It could be just people passing through.”

Councillor Debbie Davies (Con, Baildon) said she has not received any reports from residents about the issue but urged people to be vigilant.

She said: “It’s unpleasant. We don’t know where they came from in this incident.

“We should be more aware of these things and what they are. We will keep an eye out.

“I don’t think we should see it as a Baildon problem, as we don’t know where they have come from.”