A butcher says his 180-year-old business is in danger of folding because of the impact of roadworks on the street outside.

Dean Goodchild says he is losing patience with repeated disruption on Dover Road in Walmer, Deal, and the surrounding area which he says is keeping customers away.

During a recent spell of roadworks in the area around the junction with Station Road, the 55-year-old simply decided to shut up shop for a day because footfall had dropped off so dramatically.

He says that with all the pressures on the economy at present, the impact on passing trade is putting Goodchild's of Walmer on the brink.

"I made the decision to shut the shop because there was hardly any footfall at all," he said.

"I think we had about four customers by mid-morning, nowhere near what we normally have.

"There was no parking outside, which was a major issue for us because we rely on the car parking spaces outside for our customers to stop and do their shopping."

The site has been home to a butcher's shop since 1842. Mr Goodchild, who took over the business three years ago, says the regular roadworks in the area are linked to nearby housing developments and the need to develop related infrastructure.

But he says that every time fresh disruption happens - this time costing his firm hundreds of pounds - it affects not just him but all traders operating in that part of Walmer.

He said: "With energy bills going through the roof at the moment we've got to find more money and not less money.

"Every pound that doesn't go in the till impacts us so much."

Neil Oldfield, who is a customer of the shop, spoke of his exasperation at the "chaotic" roadworks and the impact they are having on locals.

The 66-year-old, who lives in nearby Blake Close, said: "It is generally disruptive and clearly it did disrupt the local businesses.

"To begin with it clearly wasn't planned out properly or managed properly, you had tailbacks of traffic right up the Dover Road going to Kingsdown."

A Kent County Council spokesman said: "As well as carrying out maintenance on our roads we are responsible for co-ordinating all works on the highway including that of utility companies and private developments with a view to minimising disruption from any conflicting works.

"We must balance the need to allow access with being able to keep Kent moving, which is why we sometimes require non-urgent works to be completed at quieter times when disruption is less likely.

"Utility companies provide essential water, energy and communications to residents and businesses and they have a duty to maintain these services.

"While it is not always possible to co-ordinate this, particularly where works are urgent, we insist that anyone working on our network communicates this clearly to those affected."