HARD-hit traders say they are losing half their business and more after emergency works closed a main Poole road.

The A35 Bournemouth Road was closed between Pottery Junction and St Osmund’s Road at short notice on Saturday due to a collapsed sewer.

It comes on top of ongoing gas works on the same road – which will continue until August – moving up the road in stages.

As well as misery for motorists, businesses on the closed stretch say they are suffering, and are calling for compensation.

Shua Babar, at the Total garage on Bournemouth Road, said trade was down by 75 per cent.

“Because we’re a franchise, if we don’t sell any fuel we don’t get any commission – it’s a big loss for us.”

A member of staff at Tesco said they took £9,000 less than normal over the Bank Holiday. Fresh stock was being sold at “ridiculous prices” to shift it.

Jason Partington, assistant manager at Harry’s sandwich bar, said trade was down 50 per cent.

“If it goes on we’ll definitely need to ask about compensation.”

Nigel Beamish of Elite Health Foods said his customers were giving up in the traffic or being put off by the roadblock – despite a “businesses open as usual” sign.

“Once the business is lost we don’t make it up another day,” he added.

Chris Joiner of CJs Hardware said their business was also down by half.

“And we know within a few weeks we’ll have the gas board out here with traffic lights – so we’ve got that to look forward to as well.”

A Wessex Water spokesman said the Bournemouth Road was expected to be back in use by the weekend.

The delay was down to a deep excavation to repair the sewer, and time needed for the road surface to cure before it was safe for cars to use again.

“Businesses are entitled to claim for compensation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” he added.