A Abergavenny town centre business owner who says his premises is being "besieged by slobs" who leave a trail of discarded junk food strewn across the street has been warned that he could face paying the cost of having the mess cleaned up.

Julian Dyer, of Julian Dyer and Co estate agents in Market Street says it's not unusual for staff to be met by spilled Chinese, kebabs, chips and sauce on the front office door in the mornings.

"Just days ago a member of staff waked into work to find sweet and sour sauce thrown up the door and dumped on the steps," he said.

Now, to add insult to injury Mr Dyer says Monmouthshire County Council has accused one of his employees of collecting food waste, causing blockages and has warned he could be fined and charged for the cost of a council employee cleaning up the mess.

In the wake of the latest incident Mr Dyer is appealing for an order banning the consumption of food and drink in Market Street.

"We suffer badly particularly on Tuesdays - but every day as well - as a result of people who buy food and then throw the rubbish and contents all over the pavement and into our yard," said Mr Dyer.

"We are besieged by slobs who sit on the pavements outside our office eating fast food and leaving their debris for others to clear up," said My Dyer.

The estate agents has even got to the length of purchasing bins to put outside his premises in an attempt to alleviate the problem because he claims the council has refused to place bins in Market Street.

"These bins were ignored by the litter louts and vandalised by the drunks who take over after dark.

"It is quite common for people to use our office access steps as seats and when asked to move they become abusive. They often leave old chips and curry sauce on our steps, among other things.

"Quite clearly this is not our fault, if drains are blocked it's quite clearly from the debris.

"Being a surveyor I have seen for myself in the past what rubbish and starchy build-up can result in. Quite clearly, estate agents, while frequently accused of many things - do not produce drain blocking waste!

"The answer is quite simple. The council must make an order banning the consumption of food and drink in Market Street," said Mr Dyer.

"This lowers the tone of our town. I have even seen foreign tourists taking photographs in amusement at the site of these people.

"All this money is being spent on the refurbishment of Brewery Yard, but unless steps are taken now to stop this unacceptable behaviour, the whole impact of the scheme will be lost.

"Why is the council allowing this to happen in Market Street?" said Mr Dyer.

Mr Dyers's comments are backed up by two local women, who in a letter to The Abergavenny Chronicle printed this week, accuse the 'Gateway to Wales' of becoming 'shabby and dirty'.

"It's with great sadness that we have seen Abergavenny fall into disrepair with shabby shop fronts and dirty streets and toilets...it must be a great disappointed to tourist who visit," said Postbag correspondents Ann Hughes and Ann Davies.

No-one from Monmouthshire County Council was available for comment as The Abergavenny Chronicle went to Press.