A fly-tipping hotspot has become so bad that it almost covers the pavement with shoes and loaves of bread.

Residents have urged both Harrow and Brent councils to tackle the problem in Kenton’s Willowcourt Avenue – which borders the two authorities.

A mattress, shoes, a whole loaf of bread and piles of beer cans were some of the things spotted during a visit by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 

The nearby Brent Council signs warning against fly-tipping appear to be ineffective as bags were dumped beneath them. 

Hairdresser Bhavesh Raja, who runs nearby Creative Cuts, says he has to walk past the rubbish on his daily commute. 

He said the issue has been ongoing on an “almost weekly basis” for around the past eight years and there are times where he has to cross over or into the road to avoid it. 

Bhavesh explained: “It’s absolutely disgusting and a real health hazard – foxes rip up bags of food, it’ll attract rats, the smell is awful. 

“The bins need to be moved because it gives people an excuse to just dump stuff there. And it doesn’t help that it’s next to a charity shop and people think they can leave whatever they want.

“It’s got to a point where we feel as if there’s nothing we can do – it’s gone from bad to worse.

“I feel sorry for kids who have to see this, or elderly or disabled people who might struggle to get past. 

“And it’s affecting businesses – it doesn’t paint a good picture of Kenton to see things like this all the time.”

Bhavesh explained he has had a good response from Harrow Council whenever he has raised the problem but suggested more needs to be done to stop it reoccurring.

He added local businesses and residents would be happy to help tackle the issue but that the responsibility should not lie with them. 

Brent and Harrow Council have been contacted for comment.