THE former stepfather of a student who died from inhaling ‘hippy crack’ today called for the government to make it illegal.

Aaron Dunford, 22, becoming so damaged from laughing gas that he was no longer able to walk down the stairs.

The University of Brighton student was found dead at his home in Roundhill Cresent, Brighton, on March 2 and police found 200 canisters of the nitrous oxide.

Mr Dunford’s friends are now raising funds to erect a bench in Brighton in his memory And today, the former stepfather of the hospitality and event management graduate said the government should clamp down on how accessible the substance is.

Stephen Dunford, 50, was married to Aaron’s mum Zoe and said that although he split with her “he knew Aaron very well”.

Mr Dunford, a decorating contractor from the Isle of Wight, is the father to Aaron’s two younger brothers, Dominic and Ross, and said that Aaron lived with him when he and his mum got divorced.

Mr Dunford said the dangerous nitrous oxide gas should be banned and said that Aaron was just “a typical lad at university enjoying himself but fell fatal to this legal high.”

He said: “It should be made illegal because it’s harming kids.

“It’s down to the government who need to make it illegal. It’s really doing damage to kids.”

A coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure by asphyxiation, inhalation of nitrous oxide and chronic nerve pain likely due to B12 deficiency caused by chronic use of nitrous oxide gas.

“To be honest I didn’t have a clue about the drug before but it seems to be a cheap party drug in university towns.

“Taking it even once may be too much.

“It’s a proven fact that kids have died so I don’t get why the kids are doing it.”

Recreational use of nitrous oxide is set to be banned alongside other legal highs under the Psychoactive Substances Bill.

“I was not aware that he was taking the drug and I had seen him about four months before he died.

“His younger brothers are devastated. He was a typical lad at university enjoying himself but fell fatal to this legal high.

“I’ve done a bit of research into it and it’s so easy to get hold of on the internet.

“I split with his mum six or seven years ago but I knew him very well, he stayed with me when me and his mum got divorced.”