Police patrols will take place in a Chesham park in a bid to crack down on ‘laughing gas’ abuse and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Officers are set to descend on Lowndes Park, near Park Road, after noticing a rise in silver nitrous oxide canisters – known as laughing gas – littered in the beauty-spot.

Chesham town councillor, Emily Culverhouse, said the canisters have damaged grass-cutting machinery, at great cost to the taxpayer, and also endanger park wildlife.

She hopes the police patrols will mean the green space is cleaner place for residents to enjoy, and will also discourage the recreational use of the toxic substance.

She said: “We have noticed that the use of nitrous oxide is on the increase and canisters littered in the park. It is not illegal in itself to abuse the substance, however it is illegal to sell.

“However it is anti-social behaviour as it is causing litter which is dangerous to wildlife. It also damages grass cutting equipment which is costing the taxpayer a lot of money to fix.

“We also hope it will prevent people from abusing the substance, and make them more aware of what they are doing to their bodies.

“We don’t know exactly who is using [laughing gas], however we believe it may be younger people in their late teens.”

Cllr Culverhouse has also called on residents to join forces and take part in the town’s Clean Chesham campaign on September 8 – which aims to encourage people to take responsibility for their own area so “valuable police resources” are not wasted.

Thames Valley Police Chiltern and South Bucks took to Twitter to warn families to keep their eyes peeled for any packages containing the canisters arriving at their homes, and urged them to seek help from drug advice website Frank.

The regular patrols will be “ongoing” however exact details will not be publicised, according to TVP.

A TVP spokesman said: “The aim is to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the park, such as apparent use of NO2.

“We are engaging with the community and also those who are thought to be involved in this behaviour.

“We will be patrolling and engaging with those who are thought to be involved in this behaviour.

“We will use appropriate powers in order to stop anti-social behaviour. If any criminal offences are identified we will investigate fully and bring offenders to justice.”

Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour in the park is asked to alert police by calling 101.

For more information on Clean Chesham visit http://www.cheshamsociety.org.uk/.