AN experiment to pedestrianise parts of a town centre has provoked anger among traders, who claim it has led to a drop in business.

Just a week into the six months of its operation, the experiment to banish traffic from central Middlesbrough has already been given the thumbs-down by local firms.

Those trading from the bus station on Newport Road, which has seen many services re-routed away from it, claim they are suffering from a subsequent fall in custom.

Gareth Dadd, proprietor of the station's Bell's Butchers, said he is particularly annoyed after coping with the effects of renovations.

"Up until 12 months ago, we had a big development right round the bus station and our trade fell by 60 per cent," he said.

"We've had 12 months without disruption, and now I have seen my trade drop by 20 per cent.

"We haven't had time to recoup our losses after the first time, and we feel betrayed by the council."

He added: "When I see some of the young mothers trundling to the other side of town to catch buses I think councillors ought to be fulfilling the roles for which they have been elected," he said.

"They are obviously not listening to the people, because nobody has a good word to say about the experiment."

Mr Dadd called for it to be abandoned before any further damage is done.

He added: "I think the issue of compensation should be looked into."

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Borough Council, which is running the experiment in collaboration with the Middlesbrough Town Centre Company, said: "The vast majority of bus services are still using the bus station and no bus service is prevented from using it.

"There are a whole raft of reasons why trade can be affected and there has been a huge increase in the number of people using the bus station with the development of Captain Cook Square."

He added: "We don't think there's any cause for compensation."