Shocking pictures show a mountain of rubbish at one of Kent’s busiest beaches, with one councillor blaming “Wembley-sized crowds” from London.

Botany Bay in Broadstairs is loved by sunseekers hoping to make the most of its golden sand and clear water during the warm weather.

But its popularity has come at a cost, with the sheer number of people parked on nearby narrow roads blocking access for bin lorries.

As a result, uncollected rubbish including empty beer cans and crisp packets has been piling up, blighting what is said to be the UK’s most photographed beach due to Instagram users being attracted by its iconic sea stacks.

Conservative councillor Barry Manners says Thanet District Council (TDC) has been “lazy and inept” in dealing with the issue.

Cllr Manners said: “It’s absolutely foul right now.

“TDC has failed to get to grips with the parking issues that have been an issue here for over two decades. They've simply kicked it into the tall grass.

“They're too lazy and too inept to actually have proper parking control and so it's a complete free-for-all.

“The roads are congested and blocked so the bin lorries can't access, ambulances can't get down, fire engines can't get down. It's an accident waiting to happen.

“Bins become overfull because the bin lorries can't get down to empty them. It's not the fault of the bin men – they're working an impossible situation.

“You've got Wembley-sized crowds being crammed into narrow residential streets with no prohibition, no control and very little enforcement.”

The public toilets at the beach are also an issue, with one family describing how they had to wade through overflowing urine.

But despite Botany Bay’s problems, KentOnline reporter Millie Bowles described it as a “secret slice of paradise” following a recent visit.

Cllr Manners says the district council must do more to “manage the visitor economy” and protect Thanet’s beaches.

“The tourist industry is supposed to generate wealth, jobs and all the rest of it for the local economy and instead, we've got a tourist industry that's a branch of South London Social Services,” he said.

“People come here for the day, they leave their rubbish on the beach, they get back in their cars, stop at McDonald’s drive-thrus, chuck their rubbish on the M2 and drive home.

“It's a nationally significant, biodiverse, pollinator-friendly wildflower space on the clifftops. You've got the chalk stacks which are iconic.

“But we have ineptitude - we have a complete absence of management or competence at TDC to manage the visitor economy.

“They need to actually have controlled parking at these popular beachside locations but they refuse to do it. The officers are absolutely contemptuous towards the idea.”

In response, TDC said it used a number of measures to keep its shoreline clean.

A spokesman said: “Thanet has 19 miles of beautiful coastline and the council, along with local partners and community groups, works hard all year round to ensure it’s in the best condition possible.

“During the peak summer season, the council puts extra resources into beach management, to plan for the increased demand on services. Measures include placing more rubbish and recycling bins along the coastline and deploying additional cleansing teams who work extended hours to tackle the demand.

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“Education plays a key part in reminding people to take responsibility for their own waste and to respect the environment around them. Messages are shared, including on social media, throughout the summer, encouraging people to put rubbish into the bins provided, recycle it, or take it home with them if bins are full.

“Thanet also has a Beach and Coast Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in place. It helps keep the district’s beaches clean and safe for everyone to enjoy, and prohibits a range of activities. Dedicated Enforcement Officers patrol the coast and speak to anyone spotted breaching the PSPO, to educate them about the rules. If this approach fails, Enforcement Officers can issue Fixed Penalty Notices.

“Botany Bay is situated in a residential area with very limited parking. Everyone who visits the beach is reminded to park considerately to maintain access for residents, emergency vehicles and waste trucks. This is a year-round message, and is reinforced on digital signs on routes into Thanet and near to Botany Bay. “

The issue of hordes of visitors flooding the Isle when the sun is shining is a long-running one.

During the Covid pandemic, there were even calls to “close the beaches”.

Proposals for a “tourist tax” were mooted earlier this year - but TDC did not pursue the idea as it did not have the power to impose it.

A report from the authority’s tourism working group had said: “We want a booming visitor economy but we are acutely aware of the additional costs visitors bring, so we need to make every effort to secure income for the council to set against those costs.”