CANISTERS containing the controversial ‘laughing gas’ legal high were found strewn across the site of a ‘mini rave’ held in a quiet village near Worcester.

About 100 youngsters attended a drink and drug-fuelled party on the banks of the Severn close to a public footpath in Hallow, according to one resident, who did not wish to be named.

He said countless revellers turned up in an isolated spot in woodland and that they left a string of rubbish, including evidence that legal high nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, was used by revellers.

Empty canisters and packaging for the gas, which induces a 10-second ‘high’ of light-headedness, were littered across the woods.

In the UK, it is illegal to possess nitrous oxide for intoxication purposes and illegal for minors to possess at all.

It is also illegal to sell nitrous oxide to a minor.

“The mess they left for others to clear up was horrible in every respect,” said the man, who lives in the village.

“Bottles, cans, broken glass. Most worryingly, there were vast numbers of nitrous oxide canisters scattered around.

“These are, I assume, used for ‘legal highs’.”

Residents, including the man who spoke to your Worcester News, reported the incident to police and Malvern Hills District Council.

“I was away at the time but I contacted the police afterwards,” the resident added. “But they said they can only act when something is happening.”

He said he spent two hours filling 12 bags of rubbish in a bid to return the area “to its usual rural tranquil setting”.

Malvern Hills District Council said it could not act on the incident without firm evidence.

“(The council) was informed about the mini rave in a privately-owned wood after the event, by which time all the rubbish had been cleared up by local volunteers,” said Gordon Morris, street scene team manager at the council.

“Although the council has the powers to issue fixed penalty notices for littering, unless MHDC officers actually have firm evidence as to the identity of the persons dropping the litter, then unfortunately we are unable to take any action after the event.”

West Mercia Police press officer Sarah Buxton said the force had no reports at the time.