Moves to ban the sale of laughing gas  have been welcomed in Bolton.

As part of a wider crack down on anti-social behaviour, ministers are looking to clamp down on the sale of nitrous oxide. 

It is currently illegal to sell the substance, also known as hippie crack, when it is knowingly being sold for the purpose of inhalation.

Nitrous oxide is included as an anaesthetic in medical and dental contexts and as a gas for whipped cream.

The drug is typically used by being released into balloons from small silver canisters and then inhaled, giving temporary feelings of relaxation and euphoria.

But prolonged use of nitrous oxide can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, anaemia and nerve damage.

Councillor Ayyub Patel has previously highlighted the Deane Road area as a hotspot and has said off the road there are frequently a large amount of cannsters left lying around.

He said: "I welcome the move.

"Any move to restrict this laughing gas is welcome.

"Obviously any restriction will help all areas of Bolton including the Deane area.

"Hopefully in the hotspot areas we will see a reduction in antisocial behaviour and also a reduction in littering."

Deputy council leader Hilary Fairclough also backed the move.

She said: "I am delighted with this news.

"These canisters are a blight on our towns for many reasons, obviously they fact they cause a litter problem but more importantly it is a massive health issue.

"People using these canisters think it's just a bit of fun but it can and does cause dreadful and debilitating injuries."

Bolton was previously identified as a hotspot for the use of laughing gas, also known as hippy crack.

A regulatory services officer at Bolton Council told a watchdog that it was being sold to people as young as ten.

The government's ban is part of a wider crackdown on antisocial behaviour.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the ban would prevent parks from being turned into drug taking areas.

However the move came against advice from the government's drugs advisory panel, who said a ban would be disproportionate to the levels of harm associated with laughing gas.

Jane Slater, campaign manager at Anyone’s Child: Families for Safer Drug Control said: “Criminalising possession of nitrous oxide will only give more young people criminal records, make using it more dangerous, fuel organised crime activity, and cause further harm to our families and communities.

“If this Government is serious about addressing the problems with nitrous oxide then it would listen to the experts who are recommending a health-led approach supported by better use of existing controls.”

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said: “The problems caused by nitrous oxide in our local communities are no laughing matter.

“Councils are concerned that not only does it lead to a plague of anti-social behaviour but there is growing evidence that it can cause serious health problems for those who use it.

“Working with the police, councils have taken steps in their local areas to try and tackle this issue with the limited powers they currently have.

“A ban on nitrous oxide is a good step forward. We now await more details from Government about how this would be enforced and what support there will be for council trading standards teams.”