SHOPS in Ludlow are facing another major blow following the closure of one of the main routes into the town and are desperate to put out the message that they are open for business.

Veronica Calderbank, the town clerk, has warned Ludlow looks like a ghost town and it is vital to make it known that the town is open for business.

But traders insist they still want separate work scheduled for next month involving the closure of King Street to go ahead as planned.

It is believed that the repair to the historic Ludford bridge will take at least three months but the feeling in the town is that it is better to take all the pain at one time rather than staggering the work.

“The doom and gloom has created a ghost town and there are fears that if the work is staggered this will kill tourism and have a permanent, detrimental impact on the Ludlow economy and fragile economic viability of the town centre,” said Veronica Calderbank.

Winter conditions in December have badly depressed trade in the vital pre- Christmas trading period and shopkeepers have started the New Year with an increase in VAT.

Engineers have been able to re-open the bridge to pedestrian traffic but it will remain closed to traffic until the spring.

Because the bridge is a scheduled ancient monument any repairs will have to be approved by English Heritage which will further delay the process.

The cause of the partial collapse is not known but it is believed that it may be linked with the exceptionally cold snap in December with damage from ice and frost.

Major diversions have been put in place and shops are making alternative arrangements to receive deliveries.