BUSINESSES at Walford have been dismayed after a landslip which partially blocked the main road between them and the Forest was declared too unsafe to allow any traffic past.

"Cars were using half of the road up until the Highways Department reckoned it was too unsafe and closed the whole carriageway completely. That has left us totally isolated from the Forest direction," said George Smith of Walford Timber.

"There is a way to us through the lanes but you wouldn't advise anyone who didn't know their way to try this. The only other route is out to the dual carriageway at Ross and back down the Ross end of the B4234.

"Our trade has crashed and so has the trade of other businesses in Walford."

Mr Smith's yard, which sells garden furniture and prefabricated wooden outbuildings, fencing and posts, would normally be taking many fencing panel orders at this time of year, he said.

A village nursery and the award-winning pub, the Mill Race, also say the blockage has made life difficult for may of their customers.

However the good news this week is that engineers could reopen one carriageway within days, putting traffic control lights in place at the fall, which lies between Kerne Bridge and Walford.

"That would make a world of difference," said Mr Smith.