THE story of petrol sniffer Brian Taylor has highlighted the dangers of fuel abuse.

Taylor, 36, from South Bank, Middlesbrough, has been banned from filling stations on Teesside after sniffing petrol at his local Asda filling station on 51 occasions.

In some cases, Taylor slashed fuel lines to get at the petrol and intimidated staff and shoppers while he was high on petrol fumes.

Taylor has now been made the subject of a four-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) which bars him from forecourts and forbids him from carrying petrol or solvents in public.

Dr Simon Thomas, a consultant clinical toxicologist based at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, explained that some people sniff petrol because they get similar feelings to when they drink alcohol.

"It can cause some degree of euphoria but the vapours from petrol interfere with the way the brain works and you can also get headaches, dizziness and drowsiness," said Dr Thomas, who is an expert with the National Poisons Information Service.

Unlike glues and solvents, sniffing petrol is not tremendously hazardous in itself.

However, excessive sniffing of petrol vapours can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

Dr Thomas said that drinking petrol in any quantity can cause serious health problems.