Village businesses claim to have lost thousands of pounds in takings as a result of road works which have lasted more than a year.

Hebden Road, the main route into Oxenhope, has been closed for more than a year as contractors work on a £6 million project to repair the crumbling surface. It is due to re-open next month.

Drivers have been diverted through Haworth, into Stanbury and then across the moor into Oxenhope - a distance of at least three miles.

Publican, Gerald Smith, who runs the Waggon and Horse in Oxenhope, and fellow traders have collected a 1,000-name petition from people who claim the diversion signs are confusing.

They are now calling on the Local Government Ombudsman to look into their plight and rule that Bradford Council should compensate businesses.

Mr Smith, said his pub, high on the moor on the road to Hebden Bridge, relied on passing trade.

"Takings are down between £70,000 and £80,000 on the year. This is serious money and makes a big difference to our business," he said.

He blames the signage outside Hebden Bridge which declares the road is closed beyond Oxenhope but does not say there are diversions.

And he is critical of the diversions from Cross Roads because they are too confusing. "When I bought this pub five years ago it was doing £500 a week. We built it up and people came from miles around to eat. Now that has been wiped out,'' he added.

Newsagent Andy Allan, in Station Road, said: "When they closed the road it was like turning a tap off. Passing trade just disappeared.''

And grocer David Samuels said: "The village is dead. People just aren't coming here anymore to the same extent. The diversions are too complicated and they just turn round and go back."

Solicitor Anthony Cornwell, acting for Mr Smith, said he was preparing evidence to present to the Local Government Ombudsman about the way the diversions had been signed.

l The Telegraph & Argus revealed yesterday that Paul Howarth, who runs Howarth Industrial Saws on Hebden Road, is closing down the factory he built up over 27 years. He blames the road works which have made it difficult for suppliers to reach the business.

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