SHOPS have welcomed the news that parts of Worcester's High Street refurbishment will be left untouched because of fears the mess will drive Christmas shoppers away.

The Evening News reported last week how engineers have been forced to cut back the redevelopment at either end of the street because work has been delayed.

But stores were pleased that the £1.3m scheme will now be completed next year after hearing horror stories about sales figures in shops where workmen have been busy outside since May.

"I'm quite relieved it isn't coming past the shop because I haven't got to worry about the Christmas period," said Phil Trow, manager of photographic shop Jessops, near the Guildhall.

"If it's right outside the store it's not a pleasant environment. But I think once it's all done it will look quite nice."

Joanne Vaughan, store manager at nearby jeweller's WH Peplow, said she thought the city council could have discounted car parking prices to counter the downturn in custom.

"I've spoken to other shops down the road who've had fences up against their doors and you can't hear yourself talking to customers for the drills, so in a way I'm quite pleased it's not being dug up," she explained.

"It would have been nice if Worcester City Council, knowing all the work was going on, could have taken a bit off the car parking to encourage more people in."

For the traders in the centre

of the High Street, the completion of the building work can't come quickly enough.

Becky Stone, a sales assistant at Barratts shoe shop, said the store had to send photos of the work to the company's head office to explain the "considerable drop" in sales.

"They put a fence up by Ann Summers so people aren't walking down there and passing the door now," she said.

"You have to shout at customers because of the noise and if you shut the doors people think you're shut."