SHOPS that should be enjoying a boom time are facing empty aisles because of road works at a busy junction, traders say.

The works at the junction with Roding Road, Valley Hill and Oakwood Hill in Loughton have been in place for the past couple of weeks.

Business in the area are open as normal, but shopkeepers say pavements have been blocked, leading to a dramatic drop in footfall in the run-up to Christmas.

Pav Dhanoa, 30, owner of Oakwood Wines in Roding Road, said: “They’ve stopped access to the shops and it’s hurting the businesses.

“People are having to walk in the road to come to the shop. They’ve cut off the pedestrian crossings.

“There are four-way traffic lights as well, so no-one wants to drive this way.

“Christmas is coming and it’s really worrying.”

He said he had asked the National Grid, which is carrying out the work, and Essex County Council, which is responsible for roads, to provide a safe space for pedestrians to walk past the road works on the pavement and access to the businesses, but nothing had been done.

Sharon Miln, 41, who owns Rose Garden florists, also near the junction, said: “It’s so quiet. Yesterday, I didn’t have a customer until 4.30pm.

“This time last year I was busy – it’s one of the busiest times.

“But you can’t park here and people are avoiding it. Even when they go, it will take two weeks for the traffic to start filtering back.”

The Guardian has asked the National Grid to comment.