Calls have been made to prevent caravans turning a Lake District road into a "shanty town" after complaints about litter, mess and human excrement.

Keswick Town Council has received complaints about motor homes and caravans parking on the old A66 next to Long Bridge, Portinscale.

Councillors said there were concerns about rubbish and human excrement littering the area, and that washing was being hung out to dry there.

Councillor David Burn said: "The stretch of road in question is a mess. It looks like a shanty town.

"I'm convinced people are staying overnight. We've got them drying their washing.

"It's a real mess of a weekend."

Coun Duncan Miller said: "We should be saying to the county council enough is enough. We don't mind motor homes and caravans sitting there during the day but there should be a sign saying no overnight parking."

But former county councillor Andrew Lysser said he had tried four years ago to have controls put in place and neither the county council nor any other authority felt able to police a restriction.

PCSO Catherine Smith said she had suggested a height-restriction barrier at the entrance to the road, which would remove the need for policing, but the idea had not been pursued.

Councillors said they would like to see a barrier pursued.

County councillor Tony Lywood pledged to contact the authority about the problem.