Fly-tipping students dump rotting food, microwaves and even garden tables as they head home for summer - leaving furious residents to clean up the mess

Rubbish dumped by students in Loughborough has reached its 'worst ever' levels as they head for the summer holidays, including rotting food, microwaves and garden furniture, according to furious locals.

Even whole patio tables were seen left on streets in the 'golden triangle' area - known for its popularity among young renters - as Loughborough University students departed this month.

Litter pictured in Hastings Street and Oxford Street had been 'sitting on the street for two weeks', according to one local, who did not want to be named and eventually cleared up some of the mess herself due to concerns about rats and the smell.

She said: 'It was warm, there was rotting food, there was all sorts of stuff on the floor. It's not pleasant, I couldn't leave it like that. 

'[The waste] had been building up for over a week. There was rotting food and it was steadily getting worse.'  

A spokesperson for the local authority said the waste had been cleared and the streets cleaned following an 'additional bin collection.' But the resident insisted 'it shouldn't be sitting on the street for two weeks' in the first place.

She said she stepped in to clear up rubbish that could not be taken by bin collectors.

'They took as much as they could, but there was a lot of stuff that was strewn over the pavement which is why I went out to pick it up with my rubber gloves,' she added.

'The guys that collect refuse work really hard and they shouldn't have to come and see such a mess. Normally if bins are overflowing they won't empty the overflowing stuff.

'It's the smell as well. My worst concern was rats; the bags were open or had spilled out.

'The pictures of the rubbish all along the wall is the worst that I have ever seen it. There was somebody rummaging through it to see if there was anything they could sell.'

The resident claimed she filled up four bins with rubbish that was left on the street, claiming that another contributing problem is that landlords totally gut some houses when students leave - resulting in larger appliances and furniture being cast onto the pavement. 

'Part of the problem is that this area is completely saturated with HMOs (houses in multiple occupancy),' she explained.

'They generate a lot of waste and so at the end of the year the rubbish is horrendous, and this year is the worst.

'I'm not against students being in the town, they are important for the night economy. I have students next to me. I have no problem with them.

'There needs to be a bigger message around recycling properly. I would suggest that they think about giving more bins to the HMOs.

'We have a primary school in this area. Would you want just a lot of rubbish when you are taking your children to school? I don't think I would.'

A spokesperson for Loughborough University said that in 'several cases' this year, it had called back students to clear rubbish if the 'issues can be linked to particular houses'. 

The university said it worked with the local council every year to 'plan for the end of term', adding: 'This year, the university pro-actively organised an end-of-year recycling initiative and substantial amounts of clothing and food items were collected and distributed to local charities.

'Statutory responsibility rests with the local authority and landlords.'

A spokesperson for Charnwood Borough Council said: 'Similarly to previous years, an additional bin collection took place on Monday, July 8, in student areas of Loughborough. The waste was cleared and the streets in the area have been cleaned.

'We are committed to keeping our borough clean and tidy and work closely with the university, letting agents and landlords to minimise the impact at the end of the academic year. 

'A small number of residents in the local area have contacted us about this year's clear-up and we will take their feedback on board for the next academic year.'