TRADERS heaved a huge sigh of relief on Monday as the gas mains works that had closed two of the main routes into Haslemere finished and the road closure was lifted.

The work was originally scheduled to finish at the end of next week, but contractors finished two weeks early.

"Shops, particularly the small independents, have really been hit hard by these works," said Julianne Evans, Haslemere Chamber of Trade president and owner of J L Nobbs, a family-run stationers in the High Street.

"It coincided with the deepening double-dip recession, meaning many of us are left struggling to survive."

One of the biggest concerns expressed by shop owners in the town is people will have changed their shopping habits to avoid the town while the work was under way and won't return.

The Haslemere chamber will be looking at ways to help attract people to the town in the upcoming trading period, but meanwhile the message was "Haslemere is the place to be!"

Mrs Evans said the statutory requirements for signs enforced by Surrey County Council meant potential visitors from the Godalming and Midhurst directions were given the impression that they couldn't get into the town easily, when in fact the reverse was true."