Traders in a village near Skipton, who face weeks of disruption because of new road surfacing, are hoping to entice visitors with special offers.

Gargrave shopkeepers fear the £1 million repairs to the A65, which carries 10,000 vehicles a day and is one of the main links to the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, will hit their businesses.

Work starts tomorrow on resurfacing the trunk road, which takes traffic to the Lake District and M6.

The Highways Agency expects the roadworks - which run until July - to cause disruption through Gargrave and Hellifield. It plans to carry out work on the road in both villages at the same time to minimise inconvenience.

In a bid to encourage people into the village some Gargrave traders are offering 15 per cent discount on all purchases costing more than £20.

And others have been critical of the Highways Agency's temporary direction signs.

Rebecca Roberts, of the Ewe Tree, said: "They are horrendous and people have been confused."

But Linda Hartell-Payne, owner of the Dalesman Cafe in Gargrave, said: "We were concerned at the beginning that people would avoid the village because of difficulty with access. However, we voiced our concerns to the Highways Agency and they have been helpful in putting up signs making it clear there is access to shops, restaurants and the river and canal.''

A Highways Agency spokesman said the work would be completed by Monday, July 14. It would not be carried out over the Spring Bank Holiday.

There would be a number of diversions set up but access would remain to the villages.

When the work was completed, the road would have a noise-reducing surface and there would be less spray in wet weather.

The Highways Agency is also holding meetings in Cononley Village Institute to outline plans for improvements at Cononley crossroads, near Skipton on the A629.

Representatives will be available to answer questions on Friday from 10am to 8pm and on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Specialist agricultural staff will be available on the Friday from 6.30pm to 8pm and Saturday from noon-2pm.