Traders in Heckmondwike fear they could go out of business due to roadworks disrupting the town centre.

Gas transport company Transco began a £172,000 scheme to replace 400 metres of gas main with modern, plastic pipes on July 8.

Before starting the project, Transco said work would stop on market days and efforts would be made to keep disruption to a minimum.

But traders claim shoppers are staying away because of the roadworks. They claim a Government-led compensation scheme used by Transco is too drawn out and many fear their businesses will fold before cash comes through.

One trader took only £7.25 in one day and another took only £14 in a week since the work has been going on.

Abass Koolaji, owner of Kool clothes shop on High Street, said in a two-hour period on Thursday he had no customers in the shop.

He said: "I don't know a business that hasn't been affected. The only person I have had in my shop today was the window cleaner to collect his money.

"When you turn the TV or radio on, it warns people to avoid Heckmondwike due to this work. We've all got bills to pay but if this carries on I'm not going to survive much longer."

Mr Koolaji said he not want to pay hundreds of pounds to his accountant to make a compensation claim when he feared he would only receive meagre recompense.

"Heckmondwike is on the edge of collapse now," he said. "This could be the little push to put it out of business."

Mary Chilla, owner of Morley Jewellers in Market Place, said she had contacted Transco about compensation.

"The town is dead," she said. "I've had to do different things to try and compensate for the lack of trade - such as knocking ten per cent off all gold rings. But people aren't coming in. My jewellery repair trade is dead because people can't park due to the contractors' vehicles."

Councillor Tim Crowther (Lab, Heck) said: "The traders know the work they are doing is important and has to be done, but the compensation scheme they have been told about is convoluted and asks for their accounts for the last three years. I would like Transco to pay something now to keep them going."

A Transco spokesman said it did not have a compensation scheme, but adhered to Government legislation and there was no 'quick pay-out'.

He added: "Each case will be looked at on its own merits. Some traders have already contacted us and we have sent them the necessary information. The work in Market Street will be done within the ten weeks.''