CHIPPENHAM traders, who have watched sewage flow past their shop fronts since workmen opened up a large hole in the street to fix a pipe two weeks ago, say business is down because of the disruption.

Ian McCaughan, manager of First Choice travel agents in High Street, says that the smell from the open sewer has been driving customers away and profits are down on last year.

This is the latest headache for traders in Chippenham town centre who have had to contend with the disruption caused by the safety alterations currently being made to the bus station in Timber Street.

Throughout the year different contractors have dug up the High Street, Market Place and New Road.

Wessex Water sent in workmen at the beginning of October to repair and improve the existing Victorian sewer culvert, which has fallen into decay, and has limited capacity.

Mr McCaughan believes the work is detrimental to his trade.

He said: "It has been diabolical. People are just not coming in because the smell is horrible and the sight of the sewage is putting them off. It's not good.

"Wessex Water did put up a sign to say we are still open, but it doesn't seem to be working."

Next door, in men's clothes shop The Officers Club, manager Michael Carson is having similar problems.

"We have been dead since the work started," he said.

"Our takings from last week were down on last year by 35 per cent.

"It is an important time running up to Christmas when we should be making strong sales.

"People are not coming in, I believe, as a result of the pneumatic drill."

Wessex Water spokesman Mark Fleming said: "Following discussions with the traders and Wiltshire County Council, we undertook this work in two phases to give traders a clear period during the summer peak trading period.

"As a result, we completed phase one early in the summer, and then pulled out of the town centre during the peak summer months.

"We are a few weeks into phase two, building the huge storm tank under the road. The location of the storm tank was chosen for hydraulic reasons, to make the best use of the existing, improved sewer system.

"Because it is a very large storm tank, the concrete for it is being cast at the site, and takes some time to set before it can be capped off."

Wessex Water aims to finish the storm tank by November 10 and complete the whole project by the end of November.