TRADERS have spoken of their relief at seeing the end of repair works on York’s Victorian sewers, which have brought road closures and diversions for nine weeks.

The £500,000 repairs saw Fishergate closed and traffic diverted down Cemetery Road.

Fishergate has reopened, one week ahead of schedule.

Jim Helsby, 58, owner of the York Beer and Wine Shop, Sandringham Street, said: “In my 26 years running this business I have never seen any road closure quite as severe as this, but I think Yorkshire Water has been playing very fair.”

Stephen Heyman, 59, owner of Alligator wholefood shop in Fishergate, calculated a loss of four per cent of his income on last year because of the road closure. Mr Heyman said: “We don’t really rely on passing trade and it seems our customers have remained loyal to the shop despite everything.”