Highgate village is turning into a "cesspit" with streets strewn with rubbish every morning.

This is the view of Margaretha Smits, who is calling on businesses to take responsibility as "an indirect cause of all the carnage".

"Come to Highgate and there's filth everywhere," she said, citing bags and coffee cups, plastic containers with leftover curry and pizza boxes "floating around in the road".

Ms Smits, who lives on the High Street, said bags of rubbish from restaurants, especially in Pond Square, are put out every evening and torn to pieces by birds and foxes during the night.

She said this leaves the area "a cesspit of dirty kitchen roll, empty food pouches, kitchen waste and leftovers", adding: "It is bad enough in the summer but worse once the schools are back."

Ms Smits, a retired GP, says Highgate has a massive footfall due to the many schools, pubs, restaurants and cafes, and residents "suffer the litter consequences".

The area is close to Hampstead Heath, the Highgate Cemetery, Kenwood House, Omved Gardens, Waterlow Park and Lauderdale House, which is also a popular wedding venue.

Ham & High: Rubbish bagged with good intentions nonetheless are turning Highgate village into a 'cesspit'Rubbish bagged with good intentions nonetheless are turning Highgate village into a 'cesspit' (Image: Margaretha Smits)

She called on businesses themselves to take responsibility and Camden Council to recognise that the area is popular with visitors.

She said: "We separate our food, rubbish and recycling. Maybe restaurants could be encouraged to clear up their own mess and not bag everything together.

"Camden should take more care because we have so many visitors up here, we're a tourist destination.We need more litter bins."

She said the council's waste collection contractor Veolia does come round every day "but they only take what's bagged".

"It might just make people think," she added.

A spokesperson for Turquoise restaurant, in Pond Square said: "We're always here when our bags get collected.

"It's not our bags getting torn. We already have people who come to collect our trash so it's not ours."

Camden Council acknowledged that in the summer there is a higher footfall in Highgate and that businesses, residents and visitors were also responsible for disposing of their litter correctly.

A spokesperson added: “We all want to have a clean and tidy Camden – and everyone has a part to play. 

“The council sweep and empty litter bins and our enforcement team patrol this area to make sure that those caught littering are fined. We are also looking into providing extra litter bins in the area.

They urged people to dispose of their waste and litter correctly and report issues such as illegally dumped rubbish, dog mess, graffiti and litter, using the Love Clean Streets app or on the council website.

A Veolia spokesperson said they work with Camden Council to ensure Camden's recycling, waste and street cleansing services are delivered "to a high standard".

They added: "Our street sweepers and collection crews work together to ensure bins are emptied, bags collected and any litter that has overspilled is cleared as part of our daily street sweeping of Camden's high streets, including Highgate High Street."