EFFORTS to boost trade, have "failed to arouse shoppers interest" say town shopkeepers.

Christmas has hit some Bromsgrove traders hard, according to Karen Phillips, co-owner of Worcester Road store, The Clothes Rail.

"Personally it hasn't affected us, as we have a large website and much of our trade has been through mail order," she said.

"However, the closure of Little Lane has been disastrous for many traders around this area of town. If you look around, Bromsgrove is just a ghost town."

Karen claims that Bromsgrove District Council have tried to help the situation since building work started in September. The authority has subsidised adverts and erected signs in the High Street, to increase trade.

But shop owners claim that business has failed to pick up.

Anne Boscott, owner of Anne-Marie Bridal in Worcester Road, reckons that the temporary closure of Little Lane throughout the festive period meant less people cut across the market place to visit her shop.

She said: "Sales have been down this Christmas compared to last year when we'd only been open three months.

"No one is passing this way any more and we had to shut earlier this Christmas through lack of business," Anne added.

Bromsgrove District Council's economic development officer Peter Michael said: "The necessary closure of Little Lane by the county council has affected some businesses in Worcester Road.

"The district council has offered assistance with extra signage. Bromsgrove remains a good town for retailing, although smaller businesses need to examine carefully exactly where the demand is for their goods."