People are calling for action to prevent an alley being used as a fly tipping hotspot.

Those living near the lane behind shops on the corner of High Road and Long Elmes in Harrow Weald have called for action from Harrow Borough Council.

They want to see council clean up the illegally dumped rubbish which includes mattresses and construction waste.

The petition was organised by Harrow Weald Liberal Democrats, who have also called for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent it from happening again.

Lib Dem campaigner Paul Scott said: “People are angry about having all this waste in their back garden and it is an issue which is seen all over the borough.

“The problem is the waste will be cleared up and there will be no problem for a day or two but then people will come back and start dumping all over again.

“Something needs to be done not only to clear the waste but also to prevent it from happening.”

Mahendra Shah, 61, whose garden backs onto the rubbish said: “It has been a problem for all of us for such a long time.

“We have rats coming into our garden all the time and it’s just disgusting to have something like that in your back garden.

“We need action to stop it from happening. I think if they were to catch someone doing it then it would stop.”

A spokeswoman for Harrow Borough Council said: “While the land in question is privately owned, Harrow Council officers have worked with traders who have paid for the installation of gates to secure the area and prevent access to fly tippers.

“Now that the area is secured, we will arrange for clearance of the area behind the shops through the Community Payback scheme – so there will be no cost to the taxpayer for the clearance.

“We will keep monitoring the area for fly tipping.”