A TRADER fears four months worth of sewer replacement work will ruin her business.

Maria Sanders, who runs Kays DIY Centre in Southend, says she cannot reach her own yard and this is forcing her staff and customers to park on double yellow lines nearby.

Deliveries of supplies are also being hampered by the 16-week project, being carried out by Anglian Water.

Mrs Sanders, who has run her shop in Beresford Road, for 24 years, said: “Trade is very hard at the moment as it is.

“My main concern is I cannot get in and out of my yard when I need to.

“Likewise, customers who park in my yard can’t get in and have to park somewhere else.

“We have to park on double yellow lines and I have had problems in the past with the council issuing tickets to my customers.“ The £350,000 works will replace a faulty main sewer which has burst four times this year in nearby Arnold Avenue.

Nigel Lowe, 34, a painter and decorator from Southend who regularly uses the store, said: “You can’t even park outside to load your car. They are being really unsympathetic.”

Mrs Sanders added: “When I found out about the works I said it was not a problem as long as my customers could get in.

“But now I have to ask the engineers to move the road block every time myself or one of my staff want to leave.

“There is nowhere else for shoppers to go other than the street. I have told customers if they get a parking fine to give it to me and I will sort it out.”

Anthony Innes, spokesman for Anglian Water, said: “We will look into this and will ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. Some disruption is inevitable with works of this scale.”