Residents and campaigners have spoken out against “Third World” piles of rubbish on Highgate High Street.

Allan Rapley, a vet on the High Street claims that Haringey council is failing to collect the rubbish twice a day.

Having previously collected rubbish at night, Haringey announced in the summer that they would start collecting rubbish in the mornings and afternoons.

But Mr Rapley says that the service is often irregular and residents have not been clearly informed about when to expect collections.

Some residents continue to put out their rubbish at night, leading to foxes and rats.

“Parents and children are stepping over rubbish - it’s like a Third World country,” Mr Rapley said.

Highgate councillor Liz Morris has described how “piles of rubbish are wrecking our lovely High Street.”

She says businesses are not open in time for the early morning collections.

A Haringey Council spokeswoman said: “Collecting rubbish in the daytime rather than at night is not only better value for money, it also helps to prevent issues with foxes. We have written to all traders to make them aware of these changes. Where businesses ignore the new collection times we will take action.”