Laughing gas canisters found dumped near playground

Litter pickers say they are finding an increasing amount of dumped laughing gas canisters in Leicester.

A haul of almost 200 nitrous oxide canisters was found in the wooded area close to the Goldhill Adventure Playground on Monday.

The possession of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to "wrongfully inhale it for a psychoactive effect" is a criminal offence in England and Wales.

Rango's Wombly Walkies, a litter picking group, said the haul - discovered dumped in 33 black bin bags near the playground - was the most they had found in one go and the issue was getting "worse and worse".

Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas that is inhaled and is commonly used as a painkiller in medicine and dentistry, as well as a whipping agent in catering.

However it is also bought by recreational users, released into a balloon and then inhaled.

A spokesperson for the litter picking group said: "I do a lot of driving, I see these everywhere. I see these in hedges, playgrounds and car parks, it is probably one of the most common finds.

"The usage of them is absolutely increasing. Since early 2025 it has just got worse and worse.

"What I found on Monday was definitely from a private event because there was simply too many of them."

Last year, hundreds of canisters were cleared following a street party near Bede Park, the wombles said.

Scott Gibbins, from Wigston, first started litter picking in 2019 and is a member of the South Leicestershire Litter Wombles group.

"If you go on a litter pick nowadays you just find them everywhere", he said.

"They are about 12 to 15 inches long, they are quite weighty.

"If it is near the kerbstone, cyclists or motorcyclists could come off. They are a massive problem."

He said litter pickers are encouraged to bag up any canisters they find and leave them by the nearest council litter bin or to report a fly-tip using the Love Clean Streets app.

"They are just so easily available, if you go online, I bet you can buy them quite easily," Gibbins added.

"It is always the council that have to deal with this. Something has got to change."

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