More than 50 bags of rubbish were dumped outside a block of flats – forcing residents to wade through maggots and rotting food in order to get to their front door.

The bin liners were fly-tipped in an alley off York Way, King’s Cross – which is next door to York Way Fish Bar and Kebab House – during the dead of night on October 5.

The pile was left there for more than 10 days, with council bin men only clearing a few of the bags as it was on private land

Foxes rummaged through the waste, hundreds of maggots hatched and even the odd cockroach was spotted.

People living in the three flats accessed from the alleyway even wedged damp towels at the bottom of their front doors to ward off rats while York Way Fish Bar and Kebab House put salt down in an attempt to kill the maggots.

The bags were finally taken away early on Tuesday after residents – and the Gazette – repeatedly contacted the council.

Residents are now calling on the council to disinfect the alleyway – and stop any more fly-tippers from returning.

Master’s student Jane Morrissey, 39, who lives in one of the flats, said: “Our whole block only puts out about five bags max. This was a mountain.

“Foxes started tearing them open and we could see beer bottles, chicken, slimy lettuce, rice, chips, potatoes. After a couple of days, the maggots started hatching.”

Neighbour Gokcen Karakaya, 31, a business consultant, added: “The smell was disgusting and I felt itchy when went outside.”

A sign at the alleyway warns people that the area is under surveillance and that they face a �2,500 fine if they fly-tip there but a spokesman at York Way Fish Bar and Kebab House says the council needs to do more.

Cllr Phil Jones, Camden Council’s cabinet member for sustainability, said: “When fly-tipping of this nature occurs on private property, we want to ensure landowners meet their responsibility in keeping these areas clear from waste. This includes offering services to remove waste or using enforcement action to ensure it is removed.”

He added that an investigation will continue.