CHIPPENHAM traders say urgent maintenance work in the Emery Gate car park has sparked traffic mayhem in the Christmas shopping rush.

A large section of the car park's top level was closed off on Monday as workmen started repair work on the surface.

Traders are outraged that North Wiltshire District Council has decided to start the repairs in December, their most hectic time of the year.

"It's nearly Christmas and the best days of the year, and the car park was full up at 10am," said Peter Emm, manager of the men's clothing shop in Emery Gate.

"It's an appalling way to treat people with the high cost of rates in Emery Gate. We are very upset about it."

He said drivers looking for spaces had become snarled up causing delays and congestion on Monday, when the work started.

Simon Moss, manager of Dixons, said: "It would be very nice to have a large car park.

"This is our busiest time and any disruption is an inconvenience."

And manager of Unlimited Gary Bromley said: "I came in this morning to find chaos. I am not happy about it.

"People were coming in this morning, turning left, and when they could not find a space they couldn't turn round, so they had to reverse to get out."

However, Mr Bromley said pot holes had caused problems for pedestrians.

"The contractors have worked and worked this morning," he said.

"I haven't seen them stop for lunch. But I don't know why we have to have the repairs in December."

Local entrepreneur Mike Braun said: "I've had eight people asking me who are the morons responsible for digging up the car park? They are likely to ruin Christmas.

"What was so desperately urgent that they had to do it now? What's the point of celebrating Christmas and having a big lights switch-on if people have nowhere to park?"

Supermarket Somerfield has already suffered a decline in sales and expected the car parking repairs to have a significant impact on its takings this week.

Deputy manager Nigel Watson said he appreciated the importance of the health and safety issues but questioned the timing and extent of the repairs.

"I'm sure it could have been made good at a more convenient time of year. There has been a lack of communications - they did not even tell us it was happening," he said.

"The parking is not good at the best of times."

A spokesman for North Wiltshire District Council said the car park needed some urgent repairs which should be completed by Friday.

The left hand side was taped off on Sunday with work starting early Monday morning.

"We want to get the worst done first," she said.

Further repairs are due to be postponed until the New Year.

"We're trying to get through this as quickly as possible. The left car park is a bit of a hazard because of pot holes."

She said the main part of the work would be done by Wednesday.