Claims by a former soldier that a binman threatened to “knock his head off” in a row over waste collection are being investigated.

The communal bin area of Butcher Walk in Swanscombe was left looking like a “warzone” after bins were set on fire, according to resident Darren Riley.

Since then he claims the waste collection crew have been kicking rubbish back under the bins and throwing sacks back into them without collecting them – contributing to a rat infestation and stench.

When he asked the crew why they weren’t collecting the extra rubbish and to take photographic evidence, Mr Riley claims one man threatened him.

Mr Riley said: “I went down to take pictures of the rubbish they would not collect and one of them told me if I took any pictures he would ‘knock my head off.’”

“I have seen cleaner places when I was serving in Bosnia. Every time you go past it stinks to high heaven.

“The smell is forcing us to keep the windows closed but it’s warm at the moment so we like having them open.”

Mr Riley has not yet contacted police and is waiting for the council to respond.

The rubbish fire has also attracted fly tippers and items such as sofas, scrap pieces of wood, and other rubbish.

However, on Tuesday Mr Riley came home to discover all the mess had been cleared up.

His wife Lisa said: “Three workmen turned up to clear up the mess along with a man in a suit and tie who I heard say: ‘we need to get all this cleared up because the newspapers are on to it.’”

Mr Riley thanked everyone who got involved clearing it up.

Dartford council, which is responsible for waste collection in that area, told the Messenger it was investigating.