Businesses have been hit so hard by the closure of a major road in Norwich that even mourners attending wakes have been affected.

Earlham Road has been closed from the junction with Convent Road to the junction of Colman Road since last Friday<5> whilst essential resurfacing work is carried out.

And it has left mourners from the nearby Earlham Crematorium unable to attend wakes at the Black Horse pub in Earlham Road, because they have not been able to get to the watering hole's car park.

David Goodrum, from Spixworth, who attended his mother-in-law's funeral last Friday, said: 'When we came back from the church service we could not get onto the Black Horse car park because the road was closed.

'When the limousine carrying mourners left the crematorium it had to stop and then let people walk the rest of the way to the pub for the wake.'

Jane Dowe, manager at the Black Horse, said they had seen a noticeable drop in trade since the road closure.

'On one day we had no food customers at all, when we normally have at least 20 to 25,' she said.

'Regulars who usually park their cars in our car park have not been able to, so we have had fewer customers coming into the pub.'

Other businesses reported a fall in footfall, while some traders highlighted that a road sign telling motorists that businesses in the street were open as usual spelt businesses as 'bussinesses'.

The work in Earlham Road is expected to last 10 working days and is taking place between 7.30am and 7pm each day. No parking is available on Earlham Road between these times, and the road is closed to through traffic.

Amy Lyall, a spokeswoman for Norwich City Council, said: 'We have a statutory duty to maintain the roads of the city, as roads do get worn through use and worn roads can be extremely dangerous for drivers.

'We do appreciate that this is inconvenient for businesses and residents on that road, and we would like to thank them for their patience while this essential maintenance work takes place.'