Business owners said they have experienced a drop in sales since a two-year roadworks project started.

The A382, which connects Newton Abbot to the A38, has been closed since September as part of Devon County Council’s (DCC) scheme to improve safety, ease congestion and boost options for walkers and cyclists.

Tony Joyner, owner of the Plants Galore garden centre just off the A382, said takings had fallen by 34% since the closure while Sarah Rittershausen, who runs Orchid Paradise at Burnham Nurseries, said it was 25% to 30% down in sales.

DCC previously said it had consulted on the planned closure. The BBC has contacted the council for an updated statement.

The project involves an 11-month closure at Whitehills roundabout followed by a one-year closure at Forches Cross, with diversions put in place.

Mr Joyner said since the closure, his Newton Abbot store’s turnover had dropped by a third compared to other sites he owned in Plymouth, Exeter and Yeovil.

He said the business was doing everything it could, but having no passing trade on the A382 was making trade “very difficult”.

“Once motorists don’t go along that road, it’s very hard to get people to travel around Newton Abbot in either direction,” he added.

Ms Rittershausen said local businesses needed “long-term support” from the council.

“We need people to keep visiting the site and keep us going because we are about 25% to 30% down on normal sales,” she said.

However, Ms Rittershausen said the diversions were not “too bad” and the more people got used to them, the easier it would become to get to the site.

She hoped Christmas trade would help pick up some of the losses.

“It’s going to be very hard to make this up,” she added.

DCC previously said a “comprehensive traffic management layout” had been agreed with local stakeholders before the closure.

The authority added “businesses open as usual” signs had been installed.