A recycling area blighted by nappies, car parts and rotten food at the weekends has prompted a petition by Surbiton residents.

The 110-signature strong petition was submitted by residents from Raeburn Avenue and Meldone Close after they became fed up with the state of the area.

Another petition has also been started by Raeburn Avenue residents on the Kingston Council website, which currently has 14 signatures.

The council is responsible for its maintenance through the week but residents have said the amount of rubbish and non-recyclable things thrown at the site means it needs attention seven days a week.

Meldone Close resident John Brocking, 37, said: “The site is disgusting. Over the past couple of months alone my family and I have walked past used nappies, human waste, used sanitary towels, rotten food, broken glass, car tyres, engine parts.

“I have a 17-month-old daughter and when she is walking to the shops at the top of the road and there’s sanitary towels – it’s not ideal. This has been an issue for a long time.”

A petition to spur the council into action was previously submitted in 2009 with 29 signatures but extra patrols and cleaning routines at the weekend have not been carried on since.

Mr Brocking said: “The council are not clear they have the resources to maintain this site. If they can’t clean it we have to live with an open tip at the bottom of the road.”

He said that getting rid of the recycling area could be frustrating for some residents who would have to travel to a tip but would be good for health and safety.

Former councillor Ian George who submitted the first petition four years ago, said: “Nothing has changed. I think they [the council] just can’t be bothered quite frankly.

"They previously said the new recycling scheme would make the site redundant – that was clearly not the case.

“The area is filled up every day. It just can’t cope.”

He said four years ago when he was a councillor there was a working CCTV system in place to check on fly tippers – but it was never used.