Work is set to start to clear a mountain of tyres which were illegally dumped on a coastal footpath, leaving it shut for almost two years.

The route along the Canal Basin, Gravesend, was closed on October 8, 2021, by Kent County Council (KCC) as it was thought the fly-tipping 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.

It was expected to be open on December 11, 2022 – more than a year after it was originally shut – but it did not happen.

In August last year, fencing was put up to block the entrance to the path and multiple signs were posted on the footbridge warning people the path was closed due to "dangerous tyres."

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

Earlier this year, KCC confirmed ongoing enforcement action was being taken with partner organisations, although they could not comment on the specifics of this work.

A spokesman has now said the authority is ready to clear the tyres – 21 months after the path was first closed.

They added: “Following an investigation, KCC is now ready to start clearing the path ready for it to be reopened to the public.

"Remedial work, including restoring the surface of the footpath, will need to be completed.

“While we do not have a date for this work to be completed yet, we will work quickly to restore this area.”

Responsibility for dealing with fly-tipping falls on both local authorities and the Environment Agency depending on its scale.

Councils are responsible for investigating small-scale fly-tipping, while the government department investigates large-scale illegal dumping and serious and organised waste crime.