POLICE have issued a stark warning about the potentially fatal consequences of laughing gas - after they stopped and seized a car in Bradford.

Officers said they saw the vehicle - which "appeared to be involved in suspicious activity" - in the Great Horton area.

The car was stopped after initially trying to evade officers, said police.

The three occupants of the vehicle were searched and three nitrous oxide cannisters were found.

Police said "appropriate action" was taken against the driver and occupants, and the vehicle was seized.

A spokesperson for the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "The possession and inappropriate use of nitrous oxide is a criminal offence, with the item now classified as a Class C drug.

"Stringent action will be taken against those selling and using nitrous oxide for inappropriate purposes.

"The use of such item when driving or riding a vehicle can seriously impact your ability - and risk serious injury or death."

Bradford was one of the first cities in the UK to raise the alarm about the number of drug users inhaling gas from balloons on street corners and behind the wheel.

Last November, it was made illegal to possess nitrous oxide.