THE MAYOR of Bewdley has called for an end to a "stupid rumour" suggesting councillors want a clutch of businesses to leave the town.

Tony Williams said gossip that Bewdley Town Council did not welcome certain traders was a threat to shopkeepers' confidence at a critical time for businesses in the town.

Bewdley is one year away from the end of a flood defence project that has closed one of its two major car parks.

He said he wanted to get the message across, adding: "Whoever is putting this stupid rumour around, the council is 110 per cent behind the businesses.

"I have spoken to the traders and have assured them that we welcome everybody into our town but they are saying it has caused quite a lot of bad feeling among traders."

Cheap and Cheerful, in Load Street, has a sign in its window assuring shoppers it is not leaving the town.

Owner, Sue Matthews, said: "Virtually every customer that has come in has heard this rumour, one way or another, that we are closing down.

"It is quite annoying now because we have been here 12 years and struggled for a long time to get the business up and running and this is the last thing we need at the moment," she added.

Sylvia Havard, who runs Star Lite in Load Street, said she was amazed to be told she was closing down by a customer.

She explained: "I was shocked because, if it was true, why didn't I know about it? I really didn't know what to do."

She said she had even been accused of starting rumours about multiple shop closures.

"It has got to be stopped because it is causing a lot of concern and it is causing problems," she added.

Bob Bromley, chairman of the Bewdley Chamber of Trade, said: "It is just another nail.

"The town doesn't need this. It is just a nightmare and it is one thing after another."

Mr Williams said the news was unwelcome after the success of the switching on of the Christmas lights last month.

He added: "This has really taken all the shine off the positive things people are doing in the town."