Residents say “disrespectful” tourists eager to take the perfect photograph next to an Instagram hotspot are trashing public flowerbeds.

Set alongside the River Stour, Westgate Gardens is one of the most visited parts of Canterbury - second only to the Cathedral in Tripadvisor’s list of the 10 best things to do in the city.

But as the park’s summer blooms reach their zenith, local Terry Westgate says the near-constant crowds have taken a heavy toll on the grounds.

“The tourists seem to think they can get these fantastic photographs from in among the flowers, but they're showing no respect,” said Mr Westgate.

“They have completely worn out the grass and it’s now got to the stage that they are standing in the flowerbeds to get the perfect pic, but in doing so, they are ruining it for everyone.

“It’s an absolute tragedy for all of Canterbury.”

The Green Flag Award-winning park is visited by tens of thousands each year, but Mr Westgate - a former city councillor – believes it is particularly overseas tourists who are to blame.

“I don’t want to single out any particular group, but a lot of these people who are doing it are foreign visitors,” he said.

“They are spoiling this area for all of Canterbury. I wonder - would they do it in their own country?”

There are no official rules about where visitors to the garden should and should not stand and Canterbury City Council (CCC) says fines are not issued for trampling on the grass or flowers.

Nevertheless, KentOnline understands residents of houses nearby Westgate Gardens have put in place ‘Keep off the grass signs’ in an effort to discourage damage.

Chris Henry, who operates punt river tours along the Stour, says more could be done to keep the beauty spot looking its best.

“I think for locals who live around here and like the site, particularly those who live in the houses opposite, the damage to the flowerbeds detracts from the gardens,” he said.

“The flowers have the effect of bringing people here in the first place, so it might be a price that we need to accept.

“But I do think that if there was a bigger sign or maybe even a warden that was put in charge of the area around here, this sort of thing could be kept at a minimum.”

A CCC spokesperson said: “We are pleased the flower displays in the Westgate Gardens are so popular and it's nice to see pictures popping up worldwide on Instagram, TikTok and other social media sites.

“Obviously it's sad to see some of the plants getting damaged, but we believe this is only by a tiny minority of visitors to the park.

“Most are very respectful of the displays and are keen not to cause a problem with the very thing they have come to photograph.

"We just ask people to show common sense and be careful, and then everyone can continue to enjoy the park and its flowers.

“We understand the concerns that residents have raised about the damage and will be considering options for small changes we could make in that area of the park that would protect the flowerbeds and still allow those stunning photographs to be taken.”