PROTRACTED roadworks that have hit a farm business near Wrexham hard are drawing to a close.

Water board officials say they are due to lift the partial road closure on the A541 Mold Road which has deterred passing trade from shopping at Jones Brothers Farm Shop.

Business partner Steven Jones says the shop's income has been badly hit by the works to lay new mains piping since contractors started in August.

He is preparing to send in a compensation claim to water firm Hafren Dyfrdwy and says he is concerned the work has dragged on so long despite some days there being little sign of any activity.

Lane closures have been in force and Mr Jones says potential customers have been put off entering and exiting the premises on a stretch of road with a 50 mph speed limit.

Hafren Dyfrdwy expect the closure to be lifted on Friday.

But Mr Jones said: "The water company said the work would take 15 weeks initially, but it looked as though it would be shorter than that.

"Recently they've just been filling in one or two holes and that is all. As far as I can see the work was complete and no-one has been on the site other than an odd day.

"They don't seem to tell us what is happening. But it has hit our takings as it is the time of year when people are stocking up for Christmas and the road works are not helping.

"I've not submitted a compensation claim yet but I have the forms and will have to go through the accounts and compare the takings with previous years."

A spokesman for Hafren Dyfrydwy said: "We’re happy to say that the work is almost complete. The new water pipe, which will make water supplies for our customers much more reliable, is now in place and connected to the network.

"There is a bit more work to do in the verges to replace some topsoil so that we make sure everything is put back to how it was. But we are hoping that we’ll be able to remove the road closure on Friday.

"We want to say a huge thank you to everyone in the area for their patience while we did this important work. We are really sorry for any inconvenience it caused.”