FRUSTRATED traders are battling for compensation after claiming gas works have prevented customers reaching their shops for the past two weeks.

Shopkeepers at the parade of shops in London Road, Rayleigh, by the junction with Downhall Road, say trade has collapsed over the past fortnight.

The project, in which old metal gas pipes are being replaced with longer-lasting plastic ones, has caused gridlock across much of the town.

There are temporary traffic lights in London Road and Downhall Road, with only one lane open, while nearby roads the Approach and Creswick Avenue are closed.

Elaine Bodys, who runs Thatch hairdressers, said trade was down by about 50 per cent for her so far because there was nowhere for customers to park.

She said: “We are sitting here doing nothing. Customers have said they will just wait until the works finish. It’s having a huge impact on the traders here.

“Never in 20 years of hairdressing have I been sitting here like this before.”

The work is being carried out for National Grid by the North London Gas Alliance, as part of a £4million programme to improve safety.

The gas replacement works will continue along Crown Hill and also on High Road near Rayleigh Weir.

Sue McKenna, who runs Expressions of Rayleigh, said: “We thought it would all be cleared away by now.

“We are into week three and we’ve still got no trade.”

She said traders have been given a letter to claim for compensation from National Grid.

“But there’s no guarantee we are going to get anything,” she added.

Rayleigh councillor Chris Lumley is helping the traders in their fight, but said some were unhappy at having to provide five years of accounts as part of the application.

He said: “There’s a genuine feeling by the shopkeepers that this is a half-hearted attempt and they’re putting obstacles in their way.

“They’re not very optimistic about getting compensation and just want the work over as soon as possible.

“One trader said he was 70 per cent down last week.

“They are all small traders and can’t take this for very long.”

National Grid spokeswoman Sarah Harris said the works in that section were completed yesterday and the traffic lights should be removed by this morning, two weeks ahead of schedule.

She said: “We are mindful of the inconvenience these works can cause and have been speaking to individual businesses to minimise inconvenience where possible.

“We have provided each business with information about our compensation procedures and each claim will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”