BUSINESSES are expected to lose money as a result of the upcoming English Defence League (EDL) demonstration in the city.

Wetherspoons is closing its two pubs in Worcester for the duration of the far-right march on Saturday.

The owner of a vegan restaurant next to the site of the planned EDL rally is also concerned that he will lose business, although he refuses to shut down for the day.

Anthony Chesher, head of Be the Change Foods, in Worcester’s Cornmarket, said some of his employees intend to stay at home on Saturday.

He added: "We are not insisting that anyone comes in. But we don't want to feel like we are being bullied into not opening.

"Last time it was an interesting one in that earnings were up. We had lots of counter protesters there and their way of thinking is more like ours.

"If the EDL protest makes it to Cornmarket this time then I expect us to potentially take a hit for that short period."

David Lane, the owner of Coffee 45, in The Tything, also said he expected to have an empty shop on the day of the protest.

Cllr Adrian Gregson, leader of the Worcester City Council Labour group, said: "There's a worry that some people will stay away from the city on Saturday.

"I'm hoping that we will operate business as usual, clearly there's a concern that it will have an impact.

"But I think that if businesses do suffer as a result, it's yet another argument as for why we don't want this kind of event in the city."

Cllr Gregson previously cited the economic argument as one of the reasons to ban the march.

He thinks the event is being allowed to go ahead because police think their restrictions have limited the potential disorder.

The councillor called on residents to ignore the 'unwanted intrusion' and carry on with their day as usual.

A Wetherspoon spokesman said it will keep its two pubs in the city, the Postal Order and The Crown, closed until around 6pm on Saturday.

The far-right march, from Angel Place to Cornmarket, will begin at 1.30pm, while counter protesters will start walking from Hill Street to Silver Street at 2pm.

The EDL is protesting over plans to build a £3million mosque in Stanley Road, Worcester.

The group said it will meet at the Three Pears pub, in Wainwright Road, at around noon.

It is believed the pub will close for the day.