THE continued closure of Lymm village is becoming too large a cross to bear according to shopkeepers.

Eagle Brow, the major road travelling through the centre of the village, has been closed since February to allow massive refurbishment work to take place.

But the work has been delayed and some businesses on Eagle Brow and The Cross are having to cut staff hours due to a fall in trade.

Bridget Hall, who owns Churchill's Day Cleaners Limited, said her takings were down 30 per cent from this time last year.

She added: "It is an absolute nightmare from a business point of view.

"We just have no clothes in to clean and I have had to cut the hours of some staff - there is nothing for them to do.

"I understand the work needs to be done but it has taken far too long.

"We just want to know when the work will be finished."

Another shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said his profits had dropped by half compared to summer 2005.

He added: "Clearly the work needs to be done, but we are not getting answers one way or another."

The project has been hit by numerous delays - most notably when sewage spilled from the drains after a flash flood earlier in the summer.

Controversy also struck in July when century-old sets underneath the road surface were scrapped amid claims of historical vandalism'.

The £500,000 scheme was approved by council bosses in December and includes road and pavement resurfacing as well as work to erect new lampposts.

The borough council did not comment.