Laughing gas canisters found dumped across Bexley and Dartford

Officers in the Blendon and Penhill policing ward have issued an alert to parents of children finishing school for the summer after receiving reports of schoolgirls using nitrous oxide - more commonly known as laughing gas - at Penhill Park.

According to police, they believe the girls using the illegal drug were dressed in signed shirts and had customised their uniform with feathers to mark their last day of school.

Photos of the aftermath of a park gathering were then posted on social media, showing laughing gas canisters and feathers scattered on the grass.

Across the same weekend, an enormous box of canisters was found dumped on a street corner in Swanscombe and another crate was spotted in Sidcup.

Helen Hawkes, who came across the mess on the junction of Bean Road and Mounts Road, joked "looks like someone had a good time" when she posted the photos on Facebook.

Speaking to News Shopper, she added: "These things are littered everywhere. I was in the car with my family and as we sopped at a junction I noticed them there."

She said she thought it was important to post the photos on social media to make sure the community was aware of the problem.

A resident of the Hollies Estate in Sidcup sent News Shopper photos of a mess of canisters dumped in the alley opposite Ye Old Black Horse pub.

He told News Shopper he thought children were pushed into using laughing gas due to 'peer pressure'.

While residents have complained about the use of the canisters across Bexley and Dartford, police in North Heath have made an arrest over the weekend after finding a man in possession of a crate of canisters in Erith.

According to the policing team, the man was picked up in a 'hotspot' area for drugs, and after searching him, he was arrested.

As well as the crate, the officers also allegedly found white powder and a large bag of cannabis on the suspect. He was arrested for possession with intent to supply.