SHOPS in Bridport will stay open late on Friday nights in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to survive the loss of business caused by the impending road works on the A35.

The move follows a meeting organised by the chamber of trade on Monday night.

Traders are angry that they were not consulted about the roadworks but they are determined to get the message across that Bridport is open for business.

A number of retailers will be staying open until 8pm every Friday night, from October 4 until December 20.

They anticipate a down-turn in business once the roadworks at Chideock begin at the end of the month.

The chamber estimates that around 30 per cent of the town's business comes from the Devon border area and that this will be severely affected in the run up to Christmas, as well as an immeasurable amount of incidental and passing trade.

Vice-chairman Mike Harvey advised that looking for compensation for any loss would be a long and uncertain process and that more practical and immediate steps should be taken to prepare for the inevitable impact of the roadworks.

As well as late night opening on Fridays the chamber intends to use posters and advertising to keep shoppers informed as the roadworks progress, while one business offered its delivery van for use by others and another was offering free postal deliveries to customers in the west.

But Andy Violet of Humphries warned that even though the signs were encouraging, not enough retailers in the town were seen at the meeting.

He urged more shopkeepers, particularly those from the multiples, to get involved.

He said: " There are over 130 retail businesses in the town and only around 50 of them were there on Monday night. We would like for the whole town to act as one and open late on Fridays. It is the only way it can work."