SHOP owners in Alcester are worried building work to the town will scare customers away.

Work to improve the walkways in the town's tueries began earlier this year and the Market Place enhancements will start in early March.

Catherine Hughes, who owns Fine and Fancy in Market Place, contacted the Chronicle with her concerns about the possible loss of business for shops during the two weeks of work.

She said: "They are going to be doing the surface tiling outside our shops so there will be major disruptions for us. We're not against the work being done but are worried about how it will affect our business as March tends to be a quiet time for us.

"We are concerned that customers will shop elsewhere but we are asking them to support us in these difficult times.

"The scheme will make a vast improvement to the alleyway and we don't want to come across as being despondent about it."

She added her shop and others around it would remain open throughout the period and that they knew all their customers would continue their loyalty.

A meeting was held on Monday with the contractors to work out a way of causing minimum disruption. It has been made clear the alleyway will have complete pedestrian access through it while the work is carried out.