A central London street has been transformed into a homeless 'shanty town' - with dozens of tents now lining the side of the road.

Pictures show a long line of ramshackle structures set up on Euston Road, with more on nearby Gower Street - and both are close to shopping hub Tottenham Court Road.

At least 46 tents have been tied to trees and are on wooden pallets to avoid wet ground, while laundry drying on racks, mattresses, and chairs are also visible.

The shelters are also furnished with tables, and religious ornaments - while picnic rugs and blankets cover the ground outside.

A dumpster in one of the camps is overflowing with waste, including carrier bags from posh supermarkets Ocado and Waitrose and a disposable Costa Coffee cup.

Some residents were today (Thurs) found to be migrants from across Europe.

Giuliano, who owns the ‘Chicken Hut' stand next to the camp, said he was "a bit annoyed" by people going to the toilet behind his stand."

He said: "It started off with two on that side and two off this side, now there's about 30. They're not leaving the walkway free."

"I'm not frustrated, but I'm a bit annoyed that they come and do their business round there [behind the stand]."

"Even yesterday we had one guy who just walked along and came from there and, boom, he did his business."

Billy, 44, from Southwark, who helps at the chicken stand, says they sometimes give food and lend a spare gazebo to the residents – but that some them have "better mobiles and trainers" than him."

He said: "It's all about the approach. If you're nice and polite, we do what we can."

"We know people down the other end with other gazebos who come up and grab the food."

"These guys are fine. But, I don't know, some of them have got better clothes than I have-and I'm on Universal Credit."

"Some of them have got better mobiles, better trainers than me."

Homeless Akbar Bardakçi, from Romania, speaking through Google Translate, said he was sleeping rough in the area as his son had died in England and he was waiting to take him back to his home country.

He said: "It's dangerous on the street, because there are many people who do drugs, or hit you in the head. They walk around with knives."

Also speaking through Google Translate, Costa, 52, who sleeps rough at the camp, has lived in England for five years.

Prior to moving to the camp, he was living on the street elsewhere.

He said: "What can we live on in Romania? We don't have what we live on in Romania."

Costa said he was unable to work, adding: "I am an old man at 52 years old, and I don't know the language."

"I've been living in England for a long time, I've been here for five years, six years."

Just yards away, Big Issue seller of 11 years Peter Ward, 69, says he enjoys being homeless because of the "freedom" it gives him."

However, he said he wouldn't pitch his tent on the Tottenham Court Road camp as he "doesn't speak Romanian" – instead preferring to take buses out to near Hampton Court Palace for the "peace and tranquillity"."

Peter said: "We all live the lives we make for ourselves, and then we blame everyone else – isn't it funny that we do that, but that's human nature."

One Ukrainian man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had lived at the camp for seven months after suffering with cancer and other health problems.

Having moved to the UK 25 years ago, he started living on the streets three years ago, and says he has had his right to work rejected by the Home Office.

He said: "I've not had any help. My condition is very bad. I'm disabled. I've had a cancer operation, I'm diabetic, I've had so many problems – and I've not had any help."

"I'm living in the street, it's so dangerous for me, it's no good for me. It's so dangerous, it's not safe."

"I don't have any support, I don't have anyone or any support from the government."

"I'm from Ukraine, how much money does this country send to Ukraine for war? Millions, millions, maybe more."

"And you can't support only one man here? Give me some support."

The man blamed the UK government for letting in too many more migrants for some of the level of homelessness.

He continued: "When I came here 25 years back, it was an empire – now it's no empire, it's a skipyard."

"Look how many tents there are, each corner: tent, tent, tent, tent, tent."

"I can't believe it, I never saw it before. I don't know what will happen in the next five minutes."

"One day someone will find my body in the tent."

"I'm not drinking, I never use drugs, I just smoke cigarettes, and I pick them up on the street because I have no money to buy."

The man added: "Before, 25 years back, this was a beautiful country. I felt safe, I supported myself, I'm strong, I'm working, I'm legal, still working."

"Now I can't support, and people come in all the world comes here, it will never work, and have support."

"Every day it's new, new, new, new, before there were only a few tents, look now. Each corner, so many tents."

Waiting for the bus next to the camp opposite University College Hospital, Helena Trenner, 23, said: "I think it's really sad that there are so many people when there should be enough housing in London to house them all."

"I think better mental health care is a big thing that needs to be done."

"More social housing and affordable housing, and more accessible housing. I think it's really sad, it's not scary or anything – it's a shame."

"I guess better here across from the hospital than somewhere more remote."

A Camden Council spokesperson said: "This is not a situation that can continue."

"We are concerned for the welfare of people rough sleeping here and we take residents' concerns very seriously."

"Our urgent focus is on working with partners, including the landowners, to prioritise helping people rough sleeping here rebuild their lives away from the streets. "

"This means finding suitable accommodation and providing the range of support they need, while making sure the area is safe, secure and maintained for everyone."

The Mayor of London's office was approached for comment.