A WORCESTER trader has bemoaned the work of “jobsworths” at the city’s Victorian Fair for preventing him from getting his deliveries.

Robin Woodhouse, who is sales director at Thompsons Discount Electrical, said he was appalled to hear his drivers were refused entry into the Shambles on their way to make a delivery to one of the company’s shops in the Market Hall by two stewards yesterday morning.

While the fair’s organisers have since apologised for the incident, Mr Woodhouse said it should not have happened in the first place and added it was imperative the shops in the city centre are allowed to carry on with their business as normal given the current economic climate.

“I have been told by the city council and the organisers that it was a mistake,” he said. “I just find it absolutely astounding. I pay all these business rates during a recession and they won’t let us get to our shops.

“I think it’s absolutely appalling.”

Mr Woodhouse said the beige-coloured delivery van which has got the company’s logo, address and telephone number emblazoned across it, was stopped at the entrance to the Shambles from Trinity Street at about 9.30am and eventually turned back.

“I’m sure mistakes happen and I accepted their apology but it just shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” he said.

“I’m not the only shop down here so how many others have been refused entry? There is no excuse for it.”

VisitWorcester’s events manager Angela O’Neill said: “I have apologised to him profusely. I accept the fair can be a difficult time for some traders but a lot of traders have a good time and it helps to bring in a lot of revenue for them.

“It’s just very difficult to balance everything out. I apologised and said if he wanted to bring the van back we would make sure it was marshalled to where it wanted to get to.

“Unfortunately this was just one of those things.”