Concern over five-week closure of Norwich roundabout

The Heartsease roundabout in Norwich will be closed for up to five weeks

A business owner said he was "very worried" by the decision to close a busy roundabout in Norwich for up to five weeks.

The junction in Heartsease will be shut from Saturday so safety improvement work can continue.

Matthew Moore, who runs a garage off the roundabout, said bookings had fallen as people thought his business would not be open during the works.

Norfolk County Council said the work was "essential".

The full closure of the roundabout is part of work which began in September to make it safer for road users and pedestrians.

The closure itself was delayed - it was originally timed to coincide with the Easter holidays, but construction fell behind schedule.

Matthew Moore said his telephone was "just not ringing at the moment"

Mr Moore, from Number One Motor Company, said it was a "very uncertain time".

• Listen: Heartsease roundabout closure a 'big worry'

His garage lies just off one of the four exits from the roundabout, and he explained he was "extremely concerned" his trade was already being affected.

"We've had customers that have tried to cancel their MOT and service repair bookings because they thought that we were going to be closed," he said.

He added: "It could potentially cost me a lot of money."

Other businesses have previously told the BBC their trade had gone down since the roadworks began.

The roadworks began in September and are due to finish in May

Norfolk County Council said the closure would run until 18 May at the latest, and it had allowed additional time for the works in case of bad weather.

David Allfrey, interim director of highways, said: "A full closure of the roundabout is essential for the remaining construction and resurfacing work to take place as quickly and safely as possible.

"We apologise for any disruption caused."