Residents on a street in Thanet are demanding action from the council as daily overflowing communal bins entice seagulls and risk spreading coronavirus.

Nappies, dog poo and rotting food have been regularly spotted surrounding the four sets of large bins placed at each end of Athelstan Road and Ethelbert Road in Cliftonville.

Watch: Hoards of seagulls fight over overflowing communal bins in Cliftonville

They are emptied twice daily by the council but, despite this, people living in the street say businesses and residents from other roads take advantage of the communal bins, leaving them stuffed to the brim with rubbish every day.

Luke Mclean, part of the Athelstan Road Tenants and Residents' Association (ARTRA), is leading the charge to force the council into action.

Mr Mclean first complained to Thanet District Council officers and councillors about the problem three years ago when he moved into a house opposite two of the large bins.

He said: "I've got young children and to walk them to the bus stop, or to school, you have to walk through this mess.

"Nappies, cat litter, rotting food...it's disgusting.

"It's quite astonishing that this is believed to be acceptable and unworthy of any kind of immediate solution during what is also a period of great risk from an as yet-uncontrolled lethal virus.

"There are many vulnerable people living on this street along with many young children. How is it in anyway acceptable for the council to not address this situation immediately?"

He added: "Anyone with any ounce of decency or responsibility would not let this situation carry on for one minute more. Are they waiting for people to get sick?"

Matt Shoul, chairman of ARTRA, has been working with Mr Mclean to convince the council to return the road to households bins.

According to Mr Shoul, the council originally made the decision to switch to a communal bin system after a number of residents failed to follow the guidelines associated with individual household bins.

He said: "Pre-2013, Athelstan Road looked like Beirut, because there was zero selective licensing enforcement of individual households using seagull-proof bags and bins correctly.

"We don't believe that would happen again in 2020 - the excuse that the entire street will look like this image will no longer be valid."

Mr Shoul added: "The bins look exactly the same, twice a day - nappies, human faecal waste, cat litter, dog litter and rotting food."

The seagulls rip the bin bags apart which results in waste and rubbish strewn across the road.

Thanet District Council has been approached for comment.

Athelstan Road came to the attention of the police in May when residents were concerned many in the area were ignoring lockdown rules, as Cliftonville West was revealed to have the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in the county at the time.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet