A GARDEN centre is losing up to 'a third of its customers a day' as a result of roadworks in Prestwood.

The manager of Hildreth's Garden Centre explained the damaging impact Thames Water roadworks is having on the business on the A4128, Wycombe Road. 

Thames Water has closed off the road for excavation works to repair a collapsed sewer pipe.

The closure is in place until Sunday, April 14.

Martin said: "Road works are having a massive impact.

"Every few weeks they seem to do this. The road is closed for two weeks with the main road from Missenden from High Wycombe, messing up bus journeys.

"We cant get big lorries and we can only come one way. The worst thing is their road closed signs. 

"They have them five/six miles down the road, and they don't say business as usual. They put generic road closed signs.

"The car park is only a third full, normally people are quick to get in but if they come from Prestwood everything is diverted so it puts off people coming." 

Hildreth's Garden Centre is open as usual.

A Thames Water spokesman said: “We can confirm that work is underway to repair a collapsed sewer pipe on Wycombe Road in Prestwood. A road closure and diversion will be in place until Sunday 14 April, while our engineers carry out the necessary repairs. We’d like to apologise to residents and motorists for any disruption during this time.”