TRADERS in Gorse Hill are launching a petition against new traffic lights, which they believe are driving customers away.

Maggie Mays, who runs As Big As You Like lingerie store, is spearheading the campaign, to which scores of shopkeepers have pledged their support.

Mrs Mays said: "Something needs to be done, and fast, because our business will not survive if this traffic chaos continues. So we have decided to take action ourselves."

She claims queues caused by the lights, which have replaced the controversial table junction in Cricklade Road, are forcing people to shop elsewhere and could turn Gorse Hill into a ghost town.

Since the Evening Advertiser broke the story last week, Mrs Mays has been contacted by dozens of traders with a drop in takings.

Kate Hurst, who owns George Lesley Flowers, is joining forces with Mrs Mays to rally support from residents.

They plan to distribute the petition in shops for customers to sign and aim to collect more than 1,000 signatures.

Mrs Hurst said: "This petition is a step in the right direction to making Swindon Council realise that the traffic lights simply are not working. They are killing Gorse Hill shopping centre."

And Rosemary Earle, who successfully campaigned for the traffic lights in Devizes Road and Newport Street, Old Town, to be reviewed, helped instigate the action.

Mrs Earle, who runs M I Earle newsagents in Newport Street, said: "I read about the problem in Gorse Hill, which is alarmingly similar to what we faced in Old Town. So I am more than happy to offer suggestions about how to run the campaign.

"Organising a petition certainly worked for us."

Jagdish Patel, who runs Gorse Hill Post Office, also claims trade has fallen since the traffic lights arrived.

Mr Patel said: "Our business has definitely suffered, so naturally I will be backing this petition all the way."

Last month two shops in Cricklade Road closed.

Chris Spendiff, who set up cycling accessories shop Bike 'n' Gear, wound up his business last week due to a sudden drop in trade, and power tool specialist BMJ shut on February 14.