YORK is open for business - that is the message from traders and retailers amidst continuing downbeat national coverage of the city's Christmas floods.

With emergency services advising people to stay away from the city in the aftermath of the flooded rivers Foss and Ouse on Boxing Day, businesses are now calling for people to return to York and support those affected.

Their plea comes among growing anxiety surrounding national media coverage, including television reports and radio interviews, which portray much of the city as being closed.

One trader, calling for a campaign to support local business in York, is Richard Fowler, of F.R. Fowler & Son - Burnholme Fisheries, known as Fowlers of York.

He said: "There's be so much national publicity of York being flooded. It's all been very negative, and while it has been truly awful, as a city we need the public's support now, rather than the public staying away.

"As a city York is all about footfall. People ‬staying away is having a massive impact, and a massive knock on effect.

"It's not just the business that were flooded that have been affected. There's local independent businesses like me, further down the supply chain, that have now lost a massive part of our customer base.

"Everyone is working so hard to get themselves back open for business, and we need to make sure we are there to support them when they do. In the mean time people need to show their support for the wider city by buying local where they can

"Just take that second longer to think about where you go for a coffee or do you shop."

Retailers right across the city have reported one of their worst post-Christmas sales periods ever.

Frank Wood, chairman of the York Retail Forum, said: "The feedback has been that trade was extremely bad between Christmas and New Year, and footfall was substantially down.

"It wasn't helped by the police and the council asking people to stay away. We appreciated the problems with the flooding, but we still have to trade, we still are a commercial city and business must continue.

"It's vitally important that people now know that York is open for business.

While the clean-up operation continues, some business directly affected by the floods are now back open and trading.

Plonkers Bar, in Cumberland Street, was reopen within days of appearing on the front pages of national newspaper with water levels half way up the window.

Amy Dallin, manager at Plonkers, said: "We managed to get our upstairs open by Wednesday 30 and full bar open for New Year's eve.

"The picture was really good in terms of getting our name out there and raising our profile but now the hard thing is getting the message out there that we are open, and York is open.

"A lot of business down our street are still closed, so when you look down on an evening all you can see is a dark street, and the water at the bottom. We are continually trying to put the message out there either on social medial or through our locals that we are fully open for business."

Cllr Johnny Hayes, chairman of the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association added: "I am getting lots of calls and concerns from independent businesses around York needing to communicate that York is open for business.

Businesses generally are open, most shops, restaurants and businesses in York are open as normal. They are not effected.

"Fossgate and Walmgate and other effected areas want to get the message out that they are open for business. There are people that are working hard to get back open but the brilliant independents that are open need your business and will welcome you.

"Some of those that are flooded are still ordering and doing business despite the floods.

"The message needs to be made clear. Come to York. In the main we are dry safe and wanting to do business."