Drivers have been spotted inhaling "laughing gas" in Hayes before littering the canisters out of their cars and driving off
Terry Finley, who works as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport, is worried about the issue causing antisocial problems on the Barnhill estate.
He snapped a photo of the remains of one of the antisocial meets, at 5.45am on Thursday (May 18), with the canisters strewn over the road and pavement in a residential area in Hayes.
Mr Finley said: "The thing I've noticed is this seems to happen in the early hours of the morning, I see it a lot on my way to work.
"They tend to sit in cars at at around three or four in the morning - when there isn't as many police officers about, and I think they know that too.
"I think the police need to be patrolling the area at that time in the morning. I see them at 9am, 10am, but not earlier.
"I mean this happened on a Wednesday night, which I thought was a bit strange. But I imagine it happens more on the weekends."
Public Health England confirmed the danger of using Nitrous oxide, often nicknamed 'laughing gas', especially when driving.
Lynn Bransby, head of delivery for drugs, alcohol and tobacco at Public Health England, said: “The high from nitrous oxide doesn’t last very long but can be dangerous.
"It causes dizziness, confusion, loss of coordination, sound distortions and hallucinations.
"The risks are increased by also taking other substances, especially alcohol.
"As it’s difficult to judge how much you have used, you could end up fainting or having an accident. The safest option is not to use it.”
Although nitrous oxide has been legal in the past, since the Psychoactive Substances Act came into effect on May 26, 2016, it is now illegal to supply or import nitrous oxide for human consumption - and it is illegal to drive after taking such substances.
Mr Finley said: "You used to see young kids playing around on the estate more, but I think it's a sign of the times that that doesn't happen much now.
"I think some people are a bit scared to let their kids out now.
"I have to give credit to (Hillingdon) council because I told them, because I was worried about any kids seeing them, but they cleared it up within eight hours."
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