A BED shop's owners claim sales have dramatically dropped off since the new traffic management system was installed in Blackburn town centre.

They believe customers are being driven away by the new system and have said the future does not look bright if sales continue to fall.

Owner Keith Hodgson has run the Bed Centre in Darwen Street, Blackburn, with business partner Keith Perry for 10 years and has never seen trade so bad. They are among several businesses to complain about being affected by the traffic scheme.

Mr Hodgson said: "It is driving people away. It started the day they changed the light system on Darwen Street.

"They said it was to improve traffic flow but it has not done that. "The people we are getting are those on foot, while people in cars are no longer coming."

Over the last three months, they have seen the sales drop and Mr Hodgson admits it could be due to the post-Christmas lull and the increase in out-of-town shopping centres.

However, he believes it is too much of coincidence and is now considering asking drivers queued outside his shop to sign a petition against the scheme.

But he does not think it will change the planners' minds.

He said: "It was done without consultation. The damage has now been done and it won't be altered. The planners will never admit they are wrong." Mr Hodgson is now worried about the future. He said: "It is very negative. We are only a small shop and have been kept going by repeat business, but that will eventually run out."

Another business bearing the brunt of the scheme is Kumon After School Maths Club.

Mrs Pauline Vaughan, who runs the club at Westend Youth Club in Mincing Lane, said the scheme is even putting people off its free trial classes.

She explained: "We run two week trials with two lessons each week. However, people have got half way into the first week and cannot cope because of the traffic."

"Six months ago the response was phenomenal, but one parent said it was taking 45 minutes to get from Ewood. It would be easier to walk."

"Before the scheme we were getting around 25 for the trials, but now the number is below 10.

"The traffic has always been a problem, but it has just got worse."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.