BUSINESSES fear their “vital” Christmas trade could be lost as emergency roadworks cause major delays to customers trying to get into an industrial estate.

BT Openreach are carrying out urgent repair works at the roundabout on Sutton Road, Rochford, which leads onto Purdeys Way and into Purdeys Industrial Estate.

Openreach believe the the collapsed manhole box was caused by lorries cutting the corner and running over the box.

When the company attended the scene on Tuesday, it discovered a major electricity cable was also damaged.

The roundabout is the only entrance to the estate and three-way traffic lights are now causing severe delays for people trying to use the estate.

Businesses have claimed that it is putting people off coming to their stores, and have experienced a severe shortage of trade.

Carl Cantor, manager of The Factory Shop, which sells discounted clothing, toys and household items, said he could be forced to make staff redundant.

He said: “On Tuesday we had barely a soul walk in. Looking around the car parks for other places, they were empty. This time last week we were heaving.

“With businesses like us, the majority of the year you’re operating on a loss, but in these crucial two weeks building to Christmas, it’s the cream of the crop, and this cream is essential.

“But because the works are gridlocking the roundabout, no one wants to attempt to come here. It’s incredibly worrying, if it carries on, I might have to lay off staff.”

Food wholesalers at the Montine Food Company also expressed concerns.

A spokesman said: “Workers have spent the last two days twiddling their thumbs, as we operate from our warehouse, customers need to come to us for our trade to happen, but people are seeing the delays caused by the traffic lights and turning right around.

"The first and second week of December are usually the company’s biggest time of year, but we’ve only had the odd one or two customers come in this week.”

A spokesman for BT said: “We are currently working with both the electricity company and the highway authority to resolve the situation.

"We are hoping to complete the work by early next week and have extended traffic management to do so.

"We apologise to any local businesses that have been affected by this essential safety work.”