"If it could do this to our dog imagine what it could do to a person."

Those are the words of Lainey Paul who says she is still finding 'laughing gas' canisters around Burnham-on-Sea nearly six months after her dog, Ruggers, ate one.

Lainey and her husband, Darren, both from Burnham-on-Sea, said they frequently find the silver canisters discarded around parks and on the side of roads when out walking their dog and are now urging young people to stop taking the drug.

"Ruggers, unfortunately swallowed a canister while we were out on a dog walk in fields near the Frank Foley Parkway in March," Lainey said.

"Soon after I noticed something wasn't right about him, he wasn't himself and wouldn't settle so I called the vets.

"He had eaten a canister, luckily it was made out of aluminium, not out of lead which could have caused serious problems.

"We posted online about this to warn other people of the dangers they can have on dogs but it is still going on sixth months later.

"We regularly find empty canisters in parks, fields and on the side of roads around Burnham when we go out with our dog and have also seen young kids sitting in parks taking it.

"If it could do this to our dog imagine what it could do to a person."

Last month ITV reported 24-year-old Olivia Golding is unable to walk after she took nitrous oxide at a festival and it damaged the top of her spinal cord and nervous system.

The canisters have genuine uses but are sometimes used as a recreational drug.

Known as ‘nos’ or ‘laughing gas’, breathing in the gas can make people feel euphoric and relaxed but there is a risk of death as a lack of oxygen can occur when using nitrous oxide.

The gas is used to numb pain during medical procedures, used in engines to increase power output, and used in catering to prevent whipped cream going bad.

Elizabeth Cooper from Burnham, claims she found between 10 and 15 of the silver canisters littered in playing fields behind the Bay Club on August 20 and is urging dog walkers to be vigilant so their dogs don't suffer harm.

She said: "I was walking my puppy in the field and she started sniffing something so I went over to investigate.

"There was about 10 to 15 silver canisters scattered around so I picked them up and binned them at home.

"I took a photo and posted it on Facebook as I am an animal lover and couldn’t bear the thought that I could prevent a dog getting injured if I just made people aware of it."

Lainey claims the couple has called the police when they have seen young people using the drug but said police find it hard to catch them in the act.

"Everytime we have called the police a branded car with the blue lights on has come down, the kids just run away and don't get caught," Lainey said.

"If they want to catch them then maybe they should come in unmarked cars with no uniform on.

"It's scary that kids are taking this stuff and their parents are not aware of what they are doing.

"Nos can cause cardiac problems, its not something kids should be taking."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We would encourage anyone who has concerns about anti-social behaviour to call 101 and speak to the Neighbourhood Watch Team."