Inside Britain's filthiest home: The takeaway carton mountain a tenant left behind in his tiny studio flat

But Chris Dowling was not quite prepared for the sight that awaited him when he visited a recently-vacated studio flat.

Opening the door, the landlord could barely walk in to the room because the entire living area was crammed full of discarded takeaway cartons.

The 57-year-old tried to reach the kitchen but was forced back by the sheer weight of the containers.

Filthy: A tenant amassed this mountain of takeaway cartons in his tiny studio flat in Slough, Berks. In the corner, his bed can just be spotted

After eventually clearing a path through the takeaway jungle, he made it to the bathroom where more disgusting scenes awaited.

A huge pile of cigarette stubs appeared to have been carefully stacked on the right hand side of the sink.

Stunned by the state of the £100,000 flat, Mr Dowling - who owns 46 homes in total - called in his own cleaners and decorators to set it straight.

It is estimated the tenant, who is a mechanic, must have munched his way through £5,000 worth of takeaways during his two years in the property in Slough, Berks.

Despite it being just 15ft by 11ft in terms of living space, more than 1,000 cartons were found.

Disgusting: A pile of fag butts had been left on the sink in the bathroom

'The tenant had been smoking without opening windows and there were nicotine stains dripping from the walls. It smelt like a giant ashtray,' Mr Dowling said.

'There were McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken containers everywhere. I couldn't get through to get to the kitchen and they were stacked all around the bed. You couldn't see any part of the floor in the living area.

'In all my 15 years of running properties I have never come across anything like this before and we see all sorts.'

Slough Council discovered the mess after sending bailiffs around because the tenant had fallen into arrears on his council tax and informed the landlord.

When he tried to organise an inspection, the tenant changed the locks which put him in breach of contract. He then left, leaving Mr Dowling with the cleaning bill.