ROADWORKS have turned a busy York thoroughfare into a ghost town, according to business owners.

People who run shops and businesses in Bishopthorpe Road claim roadworks, which started outside their premises on Monday and could last up to eight weeks, are costing them thousands of pounds in lost trade.

Joyce Willis, owner of Secret Garden florists, in Bishopthorpe Road, said the message was not getting through to people that her shop is still open for business.

She said: "Mother's Day is one of the busiest times of year for me normally, and it's been dead.

"People normally use the car park in Bishopthorpe Road to walk into town, and drop in on the way past, but the car park has been empty.

"This has been badly managed and, by the time it's finished, I'll be thousands of pounds out of pocket."

On Monday, the Evening Press reported that Yorkshire Water's decision to shut a section of the road between Nunnery Lane and Scarcroft Road to repair a sewer caused rush hour chaos.

Traffic backed up across Skeldergate Bridge and commuters used back streets connecting Scarcroft Road and Nunnery Lane as rat runs - adding to the problem.

In Tadcaster Road, traffic tailed back to the A64, with gridlock at the Askham Bar roundabout.

But not everyone is unhappy.

Matthew Kneafsey, 28, of M& K Quality Butchers, said: "The figures aren't really down. Trade is about the same.

"We're happy. The work needs to be done. Everyone else is being negative, but we're being positive.

"We haven't got a problem."

Yorkshire Water said the work was part of a five-year programme of improvements being carried out across the city.

Diversions are in place along Scarcroft Road, along Blossom Street and into Nunnery Lane.

Workers will be on site between 7am and 7pm daily from Monday to Friday, and from 8am until 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, but the road is closed at all times.

Updated: 09:48 Friday, March 24, 2006