COUNCIL chiefs are bringing in extra workers to complete road works after complaints by businesses.

North Yorkshire County Council says it hopes to have the improvements to Rosemary Lane, in Richmond, completed by Saturday.

Work to widen pavements and make Rosemary Lane in Richmond one-way began in mid-January.

Three months later, the job is still ongoing and businesses in the street are demanding compensation for the loss of business caused by the disruption.

Chris Kinsell, owner of The Silver Store, claims he is not even taking enough to pay the wages of his staff.

"This has been a disaster," he said. "We rely on impulse purchases from passing trade but this has disappeared because of the work."

Eric Dennis, from photography shop Studio 5, said: "They removed the bollards at Easter and our takings shot up. They came back, and they shot down again. It's demoralising."

A spokesman for the county council blamed the weather for the delay.

"We will be providing extra contractors, providing the weather stays good," he said.

"The people of Richmond should hopefully see extra activity over the next few days. We're looking to be finished by Saturday at the latest."