Traffic cones have been put up throughout Llangollen

Shopkeepers say sales have been cut in half and one store owner has been forced to cut his staff's hours because the town is so quiet.

The traders say they may refuse to pay their water bills in protest.

However, Welsh Water say the work which has completely closed the A5 for two weeks and reduced it for another four was necessary to stop homes flooding.

"Trade at Llangollen is normally wonderful. It's the gateway to Wales, it always has been, but the gateway now is blocked," said Ashton Crawley who owns the Candle Power shop in the town.

The roadworks have killed most of the business, we're at least 50% down Peter Griffiths, shopkeeper

"Pretty much every shop in town is complaining that they're 50% down on their normal trade for this time of year.

"It looks like the trades people of the town are having to foot the bill for Welsh Water doing the work on the A5.

"Trade is terrible, there's nobody about. Normally in the week there are residents but they're not coming into town because there's nowhere to park."

Llangollen is usually a popular destination on the tourist trail and thousands arrive every summer for the International Music Eisteddfod.

But Mr Crawley says winter is a hard time for shopkeepers.

Ashton Crawley: Trade has been severely affected

"Unless something is done to promote Llangollen at the end of this works I don't know if we'll have a season," he said.

"People will say 'It's coneville, you can't park there, you might as well go somewhere else'."

"If we do withhold our rates and the water board want to take us to court they've got to take the lot of us," he said.

A spokeswoman for Welsh Water confirmed that the A5 has been closed since February but she said the work has been vital. The repairs are due to end on Friday.

"We've been updating the waste water network to reduce the risk of some properties from being flooded," she said.

The company has told the businesses that there is a process to follow if they feel they are entitled to compensation, she added.

Peter Griffiths from DIY store Watkin and William said he has had to cut back his staff's hours to two days a week.

"The roadworks have killed most of the business. We're at least 50% down," he said.