MICKLEGATE traders are appealing to customers to return to the street after lengthy roadworks caused a slow start to the year.

Darren Mann, manager of Oxfam’s Micklegate bookshop, said the work, which started in January and finished only last week, had kept some people away from the street.

“We didn’t have as many customers or as many donations,” he said. “We have always been lucky on Micklegate as we have got a parking space outside, so we have not traditionally had issues with stock.

‘‘People can park and drop stuff off. I was impressed that many people did come and we’re very grateful for that.’’ But he said the roadworks had caused many traders on the street to have a difficult start to the new financial year.

“I have spoken to a lot of other business owners and their trade was quite severely hit, too. We know the work has to be done, but didn’t realise it would be quite so long. We are all starting to feel the pinch.

“We would love to see the regulars come back. We’re very grateful to all those that did continue to come and we would love to see everybody else who was put off by the extensive works return, because we have missed them.”

Mr Mann, a member of the Micklegate Action Group, said it was also a shame that the street had lost one of its famous names, Bill Baber Knitwear.

Owner Jack Baber and his family decided to move back to Edinburgh, where they are from and where the main business is based, after the company’s three-year lease expired.

Mr Baber was also a key figure in the Micklegate Action Group, keeping traders informed of the initiatives of the group.

Mr Mann said the work of the group continued and the Micklegate Quarter was about to launch its first visitor guide.