Street that was dug up five times in a year

They estimate the works in Bermondsey Street, home to boutiques, bars and the Zandra Rhodes fashion museum, caused a 15 per cent fall in trade.

The first team of workers moved in last July. The road was shut, trenches dug and fences erected and the project lasted five months.

Sarah Wyndham Lewis, owner of dog collar designers Holly & Lil, said: "I was fenced in for several weeks and had to beg them to move their barricades every morning because people couldn't shop.

"They were supposed to last six weeks but lasted to the week before Christmas and destroyed all our summerand Christmas trade. They dug up the road outside my shop five or six times. Customers phoned me to say they were going to Harrods instead."

Traders are consulting lawyers over Thames's plans to do more work this summer. Kate Linden, co-owner of fashion label Cockfighter of Bermondsey, said: "We are worried they are going to stay for six months. Last time our trade fell 15 per cent. People have only started returning now."

A Thames Water spokesman said traders had asked for contractors to operate only outside the businesses' working hours. "The works took so long because they were only allowed to work for four hours a day," he said.

Thames is holding a meeting to discuss traders' concerns.