A main route out of Rickmansworth has reopened after weeks of engineering work on the railway bridge.

Businesses say the High Street has been extremely quiet and some are hoping Three Rivers District Council may offer a discount on rates to help support them.

This is the second time the town has been hit by the closure of Station Road as engineers strengthen the foundations of the bridge before it is replaced in Easter.

Some traders are blaming the traffic for the reduced number of people visiting the town. But others say the lack of buses heading into the town led to a reduced footfall.

Jay Yadev, manager of The Rickmansworth Stationers, told the Watford Observer: “It has been so quiet for the last couple of weeks.

“Because the traffic has been so bad, people are not bothering to come into the town.

“The council should give a discount on the rates to help support the businesses.

“We have lost a total of £4,000 because of the bridge works. Two thousand before Christmas and then two thousand this time.

“It has been a really frustrating period.”

Jhanta Gohel, joint owner of Black’s in High Street, said: “The road closure has really affected us.

“The High Street has been completely dead because the bus has not been coming through this part of the town.

“This means the people using the bus are not coming to this part of the town and that is really affecting us.”

Buses were unable to stop at their usual stop outside The Pennsylvanian, forcing them to stop elsewhere in the town.

Denise Carr, of Berry Lane, said: “I was at the bus stop outside the station and a bus just drove straight past. The drivers did not seem to know what was supposed to be happening.

“There has been absolutely no communication about the changes to buses. The 320 and the 324 were supposed to stop at the junction with Talbot Road but some were stopping outside the station.

“I have to use the buses to get to work. I have been late several times and that is incredibly frustrating.

“I only live in Berry Lane and it has taken me more than an hour to get home.”