James Allen says that Chuckles Indoor Play Centre on Bridge Street in Clay Cross has been "dead" for the last week because customers have stopped coming, thinking that the business is closed.

The road is being shut for 20 weeks by Derbyshire County Council while it is completely rebuilt and resurfaced as part of the £22m redevelopment of Clay Cross town centre.

But while signs informing motorists of the closure have been put up, Mr Allen says that they are leading people to presume that all the businesses on the street are also closed.

He said: "There's no problem physically with what they are doing other than dirt and dust, but the information given out and the signs put up are giving the impression that everything is closed for business.

"They don't mention that the road is still open for access."

Mr Allen said that just three children used the play centre on Tuesday compared to an average of 25 to 30 and he wants to let customers know that Chuckles is still open for business.

"We have been dead for the last week," he said.

"We are happy with the development in the long-term but it's about surviving until it happens.

"If we have not got any customers, I can't pay the bills or anything."

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire County Council said they have spoken to Mr Allen about his concerns and signs informing motorists that businesses on Bridge Street are open as usual are now being put up.