OWNERS of a village pub who have spent several years increasing their trade have warned they could lose £30,000 when a main road is closed.Terry and Barbara Burgess said the closure of the B1078 in Campsea Ashe, near Woodbridge, would have a huge effect on their pub.

OWNERS of a village pub who have spent several years increasing their trade have warned they could lose £30,000 when a main road is closed.

Terry and Barbara Burgess said the closure of the B1078 in Campsea Ashe, near Woodbridge, would have a huge effect on their pub.

They bought the Dog and Duck, Station Road, Campsea Ashe, four years ago and have steadily built up business – but Mr Burgess warned all their hard work could be undone by the loss of passing trade.

Mr Burgess said: "We have been doing well in the pub and we are a good year ahead of all expectations, but this road closure could cost us about £30,000.

"When we wanted to buy the pub we sat in the car park for an hour and watched all the passing traffic and we realised if we made the pub look attractive then they would come in.

"The road is used as a short-cut for Orford, Snape, Aldeburgh and Southwold, and we get 90 per cent of our lunchtime trade from passing trade and 50 pc at weekends.

"When the road is closed a sign is going to be put up saying businesses are open as usual in Campsea Ashe, but that does not get us passing trade. Nobody from the county council has been to explain what is going on, they have just been handing out leaflets."

His wife added: "If people are going to be diverted, then they will not be coming past us. It seems that nobody cares about us and we just feel that we have been left in the dark."

The council is demolishing the bridge on the B1078 over the east Suffolk railway line and building a replacement at a higher level to allow larger rolling stock to be transported.

The work is scheduled to take place from September to December 23, and Mr and Mrs Burgess said it would seriously affect their lucrative pre-Christmas trade. They cannot obtain compensation for loss of trade.

Sandra Graffham, the council's environment and transport communications manager, said: "The county council is aware of the issues that road closures cause, but we have a statutory right to repair the bridge and, therefore, we have no option.

"We appreciate the impact these works will have on local businesses, including the Dog and Duck, and we are doing our best to reduce the effect of the closure. We have made up signs that clearly show that it is business as usual in Campsea Ashe."