An overgrown roundabout coated in shredded litter, broken car parts and police tape has been likened to a town tip.

Angry resident Charles Murray-Roscoe, who lives on the Bridgefield estate, has to drive past the Finn Farm Roundabout on the A2070 near Ashford every day and thinks it has not been cleaned for at least three-and-a-half years.

The verge along the road is also scattered with face masks, plastic bags and takeaway food packaging that has been thrown from passing vehicles.

Mr Murray-Roscoe, an antiques dealer, moved into his home more than 10 years ago when it was one of the first to be built on the new estate, which is still expanding today.

He said the area was pristine when he first arrived but the situation has worsened over the past few years and he has even seen rats on occasions.

"I have written to the developers and Ashford Borough Council (ABC) but nothing is ever done," the 69-year-old said.

"They sometimes cut verges but they don't pick up the rubbish first so they shred all the plastic bags and paper and it all gets blown into the bushes and hangs in the trees.

"If you’re a tourist coming into the Garden of England down the A2070, the first thing you’ll see is rubbish.

"It's probably one of the worst kept in Kent, certainly in Ashford.

"If they want to encourage people to move to a new housing estate, then it's not giving them a very good first impression.

"It's worse than the Ashford dump, I wouldn't be surprised if I found a body in there."

National Highways, formerly Highways England, which is responsible for the roundabout, has promised to step up maintenance since hearing the concerns.

But Mr Murray-Roscoe fears the situation will be forgotten about in the spring and summer months when the rubbish is hidden by vegetation as it starts to grow back.

Matt Salt, service delivery manager in the south east, said: “National Highways and our contractors are committed to being a good neighbour.

"We work with ABC in a collaborative way to collect litter on the network.

"But if it wasn’t there in the first place, it would not be a problem.

"Litter on our roads can cause a hazard to drivers and our workforce.

"We will step up our regular work programme in the area to ensure our network remains safe and presentable to our customers.”

ABC says the road and roundabout in question is not its responsibility.