It will be sealed off from Church Walk to Church Hill while engineers repair the road and pavement.

Delivery lorries will be allowed access to shops only before 10am and after 6pm.

This week, the news was greeted with dismay by many traders at the station end of King Street.

"Since the building collapsed, it has been one problem after another for us," said Peter Ormerod of The Greenery.

"Just as we think we are getting straight again, they start with something else."

The road closes on March 19.

Work - due to be carried out by Cheshire County Council - will involve repairing the road, relaying the kerbs and resurfacing the pavements with natural-coloured paving slabs.

A cobbled 'rumble strip' - requested by Knutsford Town Council - will also be incorporated into the work.

"The aim is to make a feature of the cobbles which lie under the tarmac in King Street," said Bill Cook, spokesman for Cheshire's highways' department.

"There will be a small hump in the road which could encourage drivers to take more care on the road but it is not intended as a speed bump."

On Monday, Stephen Edwards, who owns an electrical business opposite Knutsford Parish Church, feared the scheme would make life difficult.

"I have only one delivery before 10am as most of them come in the afternoon," he said.

"We don't have access from the back of the building so I don't know what we'll do."

Some businesses have already taken steps to avoid such problems.

"I've already ordered all the Mother's Day and Easter stock so I'll have it before the work starts," said Fiona Butterworth at Cromwell's Chocolates.

"I don't know how it will affect my business so it is better to be prepared."

But for most traders their main concern was for their customers.

"The road may need repairing but it is bad news for a small business like ours and will be no help in the long run," said Mr Ormerod.