A CITY restaurant owner says the blocked drains outside his business meant he had to close to customers at the weekend.

Owner of Ostlers at Number 1, Tommy Badham, said the ongoing problem is quite literally draining his business.

He said: "There has been an issue with the drains for over a year now.

"They are full to the brim from all the flooding and now it only takes a bit of rain for them to overflow and make access to the restaurant impossible.

"I have tried to report this to the council online and on the phone numerous times, but still nothing has been done.

"We have lost so many days of trade because of this and it is especially rubbish in these times, as we are not really making any money as it is.

"It has got to the point now where we will have to take matters into our own hands.

"We have had no end of issues with the council, including the lack of pavement outside leaving pedestrians having to use the road which is also the entrance to the car park.

"The council have now put up a five mile per hour sign up, but it hasn't eliminated the risk.

"I see people having near misses with cars swinging into the car park at speed all everyday."

The County Council Highways department is responsible for the drains and says 'works are programmed' outside the restaurant 'for the near future'.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council, said: “The owner of Ostlers Restaurant reported a drainage defect to us on 17 April and one of our engineers carried out an inspection on 30 April.

"As a result remedial works are programmed for the near future.

“We have no record of any earlier reports on our system from the owner.”

Mr Badham says this won't put him off and he expects Ostler's to be bustling with life once again when restrictions lift fully next Monday.

He said: "We are still open to customers and won't let this deter us. We are offering take away and people are able to dine with us outside in our new covered deck area that seats 50.

"From may 17 we will be able to seat up to 100 customers inside and out and have already had a lot of bookings. We are all geared up and excited to welcome everyone back to Ostlers at Number 1."