BACKPACKERS are clogging Sydney streets, making themselves at home on the footpaths while they wait up to six weeks to sell their vans. The most congested spots include Victoria St at Potts Point and beachfront roads around Bondi, Coogee and Manly, with European backpackers desperately trying to trade their vehicles before heading home.

The tourists on a shoestring are being accused of camping out on busy footpaths and using gutters as toilet facilities due to a fall in demand in the backpacker vehicle market.

Residents and business owners in Potts Point are so sick of the mess they fired off letters to Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore last week asking for action.

“All the City of Sydney Council has to do is put up signs saying, ‘Selling vehicles is illegal’ and start towing them away,” said Angela Gallo of Dolcetta Cafe at Potts Point.

“They sit outside our cafe with their gas burners and chairs, cooking meals sometimes for eight people and make a mess of the footpath.”

Are backpackers being a nuisance in your suburb? Tell us below

It is believed the problem has escalated after the Kings Cross Car Market moved to smaller premises about a year ago, saying the market was dominated by online trading.

Potts Point’s Great Aussie Backpackers hostel manager Peter Miller said there was an oversupply of vehicle sellers in Sydney.

“With the downturn in global economies, we have more backpackers leaving Australia than arriving, so they sit there for days and weeks because they have lots of time and not a lot of money,” he said. “I’ve got no problem with backpackers themselves. The problem . . . is with the selling of vans in the city.”

Yesterday French backpacker Cedric Lemercier said he had been trying to sell his van for five weeks and had dropped the price from $6000 to about $3500.

“I am going to New Zealand next, and I need the money,” Mr Lemercier said.

The City of Sydney has told residents it is investigating.

“There are a range of options people can consider when selling vehicles without impacting on the public domain, including the internet and newspaper advertising,” a spokesman said.

The council said people wanting to report any vehicles parked illegally should call 9265 9333.