Wardens found dozens of cannisters of nitrous oxide on a County Durham estate - just one day after new legislation making them illegal was introduced.
County Durham wardens located 75 of the now illegal canisters in just one Chester-le-Street industrial estate.
There has been a rise in the misuse of nitrous oxide across the country.
Use of the drug can lead to nerve damage, paralysis and strokes.
Yesterday (November 9), the government made it illegal to possess nitrous oxide if it is, or likely to be, wrongfully inhaled.
It is now classed as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
A Durham County Council Neighbourhood Warden spokesperson said: "Neighbourhood Warden 75 located these empty nitrous oxide cannisters in an industrial estate in Chester-le-Street.
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"Due to the national rise in misuse of nitrous oxide, leading to cases of nerve damage, paralysis and strokes, the government have today made possession of nitrous oxide illegal if it is, or is likely to be, wrongfully inhaled, by classifying it as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
"It is now a criminal offence to be found in possession of the drug where its intended use is to be wrongfully inhaled, ‘to get high’."
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