A couple who set up a successful village shop claim their business is under threat thanks to a road closure.

Gemma and Nigel Harris started Roots Food Markets at Hardwick near Bicester last December and quickly built up a healthy trade among customers from surrounding villages looking for a local alternative to the supermarkets.

But last month the Hardwick road which runs past the shop was closed for repairs and as a result takings at the shop have dropped from £8,000 a week to £1,500.

Mrs Harris said: “With the majority of our stock being fresh, our waste levels have been horrific. This is a phenomenal figure for any business, but it’s a death wish for a small enterprise like ours.

“Most of our custom came along that road and the alternative is to travel ten miles around which we would not expect people to do.

“We have worked so hard against the odds to make it work and it is devastating that this has happened.”

Mrs Harris added that she agreed road repairs needed to be carried out but she had not been given any warning and had no time to prepare alternative plans.

Signs put up near the shop also conflict with one saying the work would take five days from August 24 and the other saying ten days from August 24. The signs were still in place this week.

When Mrs Harris contacted Oxfordshire County Council she was told the shop was outside the area of the road closure and there had been no need to give it notice.

Mrs Harris said: “From having a hugely popular and successful shop, we are now in the position where we are having to start all over again, building up custom and trust.”

“It is possible we cannot financially claw back from this, which will mean an empty space once again for the Shelwell Parish.”

Ian Clarke of the county council's highways team said: "The county council has an obligation to maintain the public highway for road users, which will inevitably mean roads have to be closed to carry out essential repairs.

“Such closures will always have a negative impact while they are in force, affecting residents, local businesses and motorists in general. We understand this and strive to complete projects as swiftly and efficiently as possible to minimise disruption.

"Unfortunately the roadworks had to be delayed due to the overrunning of an unrelated scheme being carried out by the county council's contractors. The signs were updated to reflect this change but unfortunately not all of them were amended as they should have been. We apologise for this oversight and the inconvenience caused."