Traders are urging their customers to return now a bridge has reopened after vital repairs.

Raw Nook bridge, in Cleckheaton Road, Oakenshaw, was closed on April 8 to allow engineers to replace the corroded structure.

It reopened on Good Friday - four days ahead of schedule - but traders said motorists were unaware the route was open again.

The closure had sparked fears among the business community that it would ruin passing trade.

Bakery owner Paul Bostock said trade at his Cleckheaton Road shop had dropped by £2,000 during the two-weeks closure.

"I can't afford for it to drag on and all of us along here want people to come back," he said. "Oakenshaw became a cul-de-sac and we've all suffered because of it. We haven't been offered any compensation, but what we would like to see is for Railtrack to put an advert in the local press letting people know the road is open again."

Repairs were carried out by rail company Railtrack and the route will be closed for the next four weekends, and possibly a fifth, for further work.

Protester Mike Healey, of Dye House Road, Cleckheaton, said the village was like a graveyard.

"It's open again but you wouldn't know it. I haven't seen a car pass through all day," he said.

Beryl Pearson, who has run Pearson's Pets in Bradford Road for 11 years, said her trade dropped by about 40 per cent.

"It's been like being in prison, but now at last we're free again," she said. "There are still a few signs up saying the road is closed, but hopefully people will start coming back into the village.

" I won't be able to make up the money I've lost and, of course, it's had a knock-on effect as we haven't been able to buy things from the wholesalers.''

A Railtrack spokesman said a schedule of the work was sent to the bus companies, councils and media. "We have worked very hard on this with the community to let them know about what we are doing to keep disruption down to a minimum," she said.

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