Jacqueline Kirkwood said she had scarcely seen a customer in her shop, Exclusively Yours, even since workmen began resurfacing the pavements.

"I may as well close for the next two months, but who can afford to do that?" she said.

"My takings were virtually nil last week."

Keith Butterworth, of Cromwell's Chocolates, said it was difficult to judge how hard his business had been hit.

"It has been busy this week because Mother's Day and Easter are supposed to be our busiest times of year," he said.

"But it is our first year here so I couldn't say if we should be busier or not."

Last week, a spokesman for Cheshire County Council said the road and pavements had to be resurfaced and hoped the repairs would be finished in four weeks.

Work was delayed to avoid the busy Christmas period, but the road between Church Hill and Church Walk is now closed for most of the day.

Last week, Ms Kirkwood called on Cheshire to employ more contractors to speed up the process - and claimed the road did not need to be shut.

"It does not have to be closed because there are only two men working here," she said.

"We are trying to make a living down here, but the public just will not walk down the road."

On Friday, a council spokesman said officers would do what they could to help.

"Although it doesn't look like there is a lot going on, it is ornate work and if there were more men it would cause more disruption," he said.

"I am sure we can improve the situation for the traders."

When the work is finished a cobbled 'rumble strip' - requested by the town council - will also be built to slow down cars.