The City of Edinburgh Council has become the first authority in Scotland to be legally allowed to seize ‘legal highs’.

The council has been granted Forfeiture Order powers to stop the sale of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS). This enables it to classify these products as ‘dangerous; and order retailers to remove them from their shelves.

Community lafety Leader, cllr Cammy Day, said: 'This is a hugely important step in our bid to get rid of so-called legal highs. There is overwhelming evidence that they have a devastating effect on individuals as well as communities, and we are grateful that the Sheriff Court agreed with the evidence that we presented to back this up.

'The granting of these Orders has confirmed our suspicions that these products are dangerous, and as such, Trading Standards’ Officers now have the power to seize these potentially lethal substances from those who sell them.'

Eight stores have already handed over goods with a retail value of up to £50,000 to be destroyed.