Villagers have been left frustrated by an increase in large laughing gas canisters being dumped in a car park and other public places.

The nitrous oxide canisters have been found in New Ash Green, just as the village has also experienced a surge in anti-social behaviour.

Evidence of the use of the drug, which is often called ‘hippy crack’, has worried residents and councillors.

It is typically found in small silver canisters, but is now also appearing in supersized versions which are larger – and more dangerous.

Laura Manston is a Green Party councillor for the area. She said: “The increase in abandoned laughing gas canisters is a worry; for one thing there is a risk to the health of the users.

“We’re no longer seeing the small bullet-shaped canisters, but large blue ones.

“I understand that people are driving into the car park with these and using them to blow up a balloon that is then shared around.

“Clearly if that leads to people driving while under the influence of the gas, that’s another worry.”

Cllr Manston says there has also been an upsurge in anti-social behaviour in the village High Street in recent weeks.

She said: “I can’t say definitely that it’s connected to the gas use, but we’ve seen more graffiti, and there have been some windows smashed.

“A little while ago there was also quite a serious fire in a flat above a shop in Upper Street. We don’t know if that was caused accidentally by people who had got in there and were mucking around or if it was deliberate.”

She added: “Shopkeepers and shoppers who have challenged the offenders have also sometimes been subject to verbal abuse. Thankfully it is verbal, not physical abuse. The area is still generally a safe place to live.”

Members of the Sevenoaks Green Party conducted a litter-pick in the Ash Croft Court area of the village and collected several car-boot loads of rubbish, including multiple empty gas canisters following the latest episode.

Cllr Manston, from Knights Croft, added: “The problem is these canisters cannot be disposed of with the normal rubbish – there‘s a danger they will explode in the back of the dustcart – they have to be dealt with separately.”

“I want to be careful not to label all young people as trouble-makers.

“The truth is there’s not much for them to do in the village and there’s no bus service to take them into town.

“As a result, they are left hanging around with nothing to do.”

Shaun Fishenden is chairman of Ashley-cum-Ridley Parish Council. Posting online, he said: “There have been reports of crime and anti-social behaviour in New Ash Green in recent weeks.

“In particular I have received a number of complaints about the high level of nitrous oxide canisters being found around the village.”

He added: “I would urge residents to please keep reporting issues to the police.

“I appreciate that in the past, things have been reported and seemingly ignored, but Kent Police has recently adopted a new 'neighbourhood policing model' that prioritises local intelligence rather than targets.

“If the new model works, we should see a visible improvement in policing when local issues are reported.”

He also suggested residents report issues to Sevenoaks council’s community safety unit, via email to community.safety@sevenoaks.gov.uk.

Sevenoaks Council provide support to NO2 users to wean themselves off the habit via the Kenward Trust.

Also known as laughing gas or nos, nitrous oxide slows down the brain and body's responses when inhaled and can create feelings of euphoria, or fits of giggles.

The party drug is second to cannabis as the most commonly misused substance among 16 to 24-year-olds in England.

The mind-altering gas is set to be banned as part of a government crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

It comes despite warnings from experts a ban will not clamp down on its use and could drive distribution into criminal hands.