A FATHER and his young daughter discovered a number of nitrous oxide canisters as they enjoyed a walk at a popular beauty spot.

Chris Rimmer was at Oak Hill Park in Accrington at around 1pm on Sunday with his five-year-old daughter when they came across the grey canisters.

They found the canisters under the shelter at the park as well as a number of balloons.

Mr Rimmer is now warning people to be aware of the dangers of nitrous oxide, also known as ‘hippy crack’ and ‘laughing gas’.

He said: “I don’t know much about them as it was my five-year-old daughter that collected them up from around the shelter.

“She was asking what they were and why there were so many.

“They were found on Sunday afternoon while we were out walking the dog.

“There was also some balloons on the ground but didn’t make the link to the cylinders until it was mentioned that they are laughing gas of some sort.

“Apparently they fill the balloon and then inhale it.”

Mr Rimmer, from Accrington, took photographs of the canisters and posted them on the Hyndburn Chat Facebook group, to find out what the small objects were.

He said: "I thought they might be air rifle cylinders but I wasn't sure , so I decided to post them on Facebook.

"I had a bit of a reaction and people were saying they were nitrous oxide cylinders and laughing gas.

"It seems like it was teenagers messing around and having a bit of a party.

"I would warn people to stop using them as they're a real danger and potentially deadly."

It comes after Olivia Golding, 24, told how she has been left paralysed from the chest down from inhaling too much 'hippy crack'.

The Bristol mum would consume up to 15 balloons every weekend while her three-year-old son visited his dad.