CONFUSION over the closure of the High Street on Saturdays is "an accident waiting to happen" - a trader warned this week.

The warning from Droitwich Spa's deputy mayor, Jan Bolton of Executive Cleaners, follows an incident last Saturday when the street wasn't closed for nearly three hours.

The road should officially be shut between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Saturdays but because the chain, which is used to close the road, has gone missing Spa police had to cone the road off before there was an accident.

Shoppers were left confused about what was happening and were crossing the road thinking that it was closed.

For the past 13 years Ron Patel, of Ron's News, in Queen Street, has been putting the chain across the High Street and taking it off at the end of the day.

But since Ron retired confusion has struck over who is responsible for the job.

Town Councillor Jan Bolton (Con - Droit - Central) said: "This situation is an accident waiting to happen. A decision needs to be made about what is going to happen because come Saturday we are going to be in the same situation again.

Hurt

"Something needs to be done before someone gets hurt because shoppers don't know whether the road is open or closed."

Wychavon District Council's town centre officer, Lew Hammond, said: "After many years of valiant service, Ron recently retired from the task of putting the chain across the High Street. Even though road signs clearly show there is no entry into the street between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Saturday, it isn't sufficient to control the traffic without the chain.

"We now need a volunteer to take on that task and control the opening and closing of the road and to be guardian of the chain."

Anyone who would take on the task can contact Lew on 01386 565518.