CONCERNS have been raised about drugs use in the car park of a town centre supermarket.

A regular Sainsbury's customer says she has often seen gas canisters scattered across the car park of the Trinity Street superstore.

Edna Liptrot, aged 83, of Hunger Hill, visits the store twice a week and says the number of the canisters is increasing.

The grey or silver canisters are discarded laughing gas containers. The gas, also called nitrous oxide, is inhaled, usually using balloons.

Mrs Liptrot said: "A lot have been in trolley bays. It looks like children have gone in with them to shelter from the weather. I was a first aider so when I see something like this it really bothers me."

The gas canisters can be bought cheaply online. One retailer is selling a box of 10 for £5.99. Reviews of the product show some people using them for their intended purpose, whipping cream, while others cheekily note they are "best stored in balloons".

Mrs Liptrot says she is worried those using nitrous oxide could move on to harder drugs.

She said: "They can't do kids any good and once they have started on something like that, that's obviously cheap, you don't know what they are going to go onto next."

The problem is not just confined to supermarket car parks. Mrs Liptrot said her husband had seen around 50 discarded in a street near to their home.

Mrs Liptrot said: "It must be an increasing problem."

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said: "We’re aware of the issue and are exploring options for preventative measures."

Nitrous oxide, also called whippets and hippie crack, is legal for personal use but it became illegal to sell it for human consumption in May, 2016.

When inhaled the drug creates a feeling of calmness and euphoria as well as fits of giggles, says drug advice service Frank.

Dangers associated with the drug are lowered inhibitions as well as the possibility of losing consciousness because of a lack of oxygen in the system. Inhaling too much and running out of oxygen can ultimately lead to death.