A mountain of illegally-dumped tyres have led to a coastal footpath being closed for a year.

The route along the Canal Basin, Gravesend, was shut on October 8 by Kent County Council (KCC) after the fly-tipping, as it posed a danger to walkers.

The street, which makes up part of the English Coast Path, was only meant to be closed for six months but this was extended to a year after the tyres were not moved.

A KCC spokesman said: "Officers have a responsibility to protect the safety of the public when using the path.

"While some of the tyres have been cleared, there are challenges in completely clearing the area and therefore we are currently unable to reopen it.

"We are working with partner agencies to progress this work at pace and hope to fully reopen the path as soon as it is safe to do so."

Fencing has been put up to block the entrance to the path and multiple signs have been posted on the footbridge at Gordon Promenade East saying: "Path closed. Dangerous tyres."

The tyres have been dumped along the street in piles with wire sticking out, clamped together and stacked up, and debris left in the area near business in the industrial park at Albion Parade.

Owner of vehicle dismantling and recycling company, VauxPartsUK, Adam said: "I would be lying if I said it has affected business but it has affected parking. You are still able to access us. We have reported it but it does not seem anyone cares really."

Manager of neighbouring business, Burns Removal Service, Mark added: "I know there was an issue but as far as I was aware it had been resolved. A lot of the tyres had been taken away.

"There are some still around the back but that does not affect us. There was issues in the past."

A diversion route has been created along Canal Road and Norfolk Road heading around the industrial estate but some walkers have said that the route is more dangerous than walking past the tyres.

Pete Skelton, of Whitehill Road, said there were always lorries and cars parked up on the pavement forcing pedestrians to walk around them in the road which many vehicles often speed down.

The 68-year-old added: "If you go early morning, you get the lorries and commuter and school buses driving past. It is quite dangerous to walk.

"I cannot understand how they see these tyres as a danger when the road is more dangerous. It is not the prettiest walk but it is a walk that should be open rather than making people walk onto and around the main road.

"I thought it was funny how the coastal path had been opened but that bit was still closed. You would have thought they would have done something about it to get it open. It is just odd.

"Why has it been closed that long? That is the frustrating part about it. It is an odd world out there."

Jodie Channing, 42, who lives in the nearby Venture Court walks her dog Ted around the area every day. She said: "It is just so dangerous. You have to take the dog into the road too which is not safe. If you want to take your kids out and be safe you cannot, it is dangerous.

"Lots of people I have spoken to have mentioned it, it is unsafe as you have to walk on the road."

KCC would not comment on what it felt was dangerous about the tyres, if any had been removed or when it is likely the matter will be dealt with ahead of a re-opening date of December 11.