A Costa Coffee branch has been urged to clean up its act after a baby was spotted "crawling next to bird poo" inside the store.

Steve Jones regularly visits the chain’s Cheriton High Street site, near Folkestone, but says "tonnes of pigeons" leave a mess by the entrance.

He says the excrement is then dragged into the store, spreading muck across the doormat that is not cleaned up.

“I saw a baby crawling on the floor next to the poo last week and thought that was just unacceptable," Mr Jones said.

“I have complained in store and written to Costa head office for the past couple of months but nothing has been done about it.

"Someone has to complain for something to happen and that person is me. I like the staff, but I just want the store to be improved.”

Mr Jones says he will continue to visit the store, but says the bird spikes above the entrance are ineffective.

The Folkestone resident, who works from home, has also contacted Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) about the issue.

"On the council's website it says it can only do something when food is in question," he said.

“But vermin excrement on the floor of a cafe is, for me, an environmental health issue."

FHDC told KentOnline it will send a crew to clean the section of the pavement covered in excrement.

The store, which opened in 2019, was last inspected by the Food Standards Agency in November and has a five-star food hygiene rating.

It replaced Lloyds Bank which had shut three years earlier.

“I ask myself why I keep going back but I do like it in there and I think the staff are lovely,” Mr Jones added.

A Costa spokesperson said: “Our franchise partner, that owns and operates the store, has taken immediate action to rectify the matter.

“The ground level of the store and doormat have undergone thorough and professional cleaning.

“Additionally, our franchise partner is actively working with our maintenance team to implement preventative measures.”