TRADERS in Watchet fear a five-day planned road closure of the town's main shopping street could hit their chances of some vital festive business in the run-up to Christmas.

Swain Street is due to be out of bounds to traffic from December 12 to 16 while services are put into a property currently undergoing extensive renovation.

But members of WACET, which represents businesses and shopkeepers in the town, are concerned at the timing of the work.

Chairman John Richards said local traders were totally supportive of the sympathetic restoration of the property - number 41 - that was being carried out.

"I know that the owner actually wanted this work done earlier in the year but has been struggling to get all the utility companies involved to agree a date," he said.

"We don't want anything to disrupt the restoration but we are critical of the lack of consultation from Somerset County Council's highways over this.

"We have heard nothing and we were assured following similar problems earlier this year that WACET would be consulted in future.

"This closure will come right in the middle of the time our members get a little boost from passing Christmas trade and it could have a disastrous effect - it could even cause problems with our late night shopping event if it over-runs."

Mr Richard said traders were also concerned about the road signs that would be put out by highways chiefs to warn motorists of the impending closure.

"Will it be the same nightmare as before with signs out long before the closure, putting people off, and then left for days afterwards?

"We want to be assured that they would at least be all removed within minutes of the job finishing."

A county council spokesman said the authority was bound by statutory notification rules, meaning the planned closure would be advertised through public notices four weeks before it was due to take place.

But she said the council's street works team had decided this week to ask Wessex Water - which had requested the closure - to delay the work until January.

"We appreciate that this could be a difficult time for local traders so we will be asking if it can be deferred," she said.