THERE is an 'emerging trend' of youths inhaling nitrous oxide from canisters in Flintshire, police have said.

Sgt Emma Prevete of the South Flintshire Policing team has called on parents, traders and members of the public to play their part in tackling the problem.

Nitrous oxide has minimal legal uses - including for cream cannisters and pain relief.

Sgt Prevete said: "These cannisters are prevalent at the moment. "We are seeing them in the woods off Forest Walk in Buckley, Parkfields in mold and the Willow Car Park in Hawarden Road, Hope.

"It is definitely an emerging trend.

"We are working with Trading Standards to educate shoppers on the appropriate legislation in terms of how they should be selling them and we have devised a leaflet.

"I'd ask the public to get in touch if they know of retailers who are not selling them for the appropriate use.

"I would also urge parents to look out for the signs of this - thankfully I am not aware that we have had any significant medical emergencies as a result.

"But when this is misused, we don't know what the long term risks are. "And these youths are inhaling them in rural settings and parks in the dark - they are putting themselves at risk."

Sgt Prevete said things to look out for in addition to the cannisters are balloons, which come "hand in hand" with them.

She also urged parents to monitor their children's online shopping, as the cannisters and associated paraphernalia can also be bought on the internet.

North Wales Police and Trading Standards has reminded retailers that it is illegal to sell nitrous oxide to anyone under the age of 18, if they have any reason to believe they are planning on inhaling it.

They have been further warned that if they do not take these reasonable steps they are leaving themselves open to a possible criminal conviction and term of imprisonment.

Reasonable steps include training staff to know the signs and be aware of the law, update training on age-restriction policies, limiting quantities of substances to be sold in one purchase and staff at the point of sale to consider whether it’s likely that a product is being purchased on behalf of another person (by proxy).