RETAILERS in one of Glasgow's busiest streets say a road closure has devastated their businesses.

Shop and cafe owners in Queen Margaret Drive have been battling to keep their takings up since Scottish Water closed part of the road for a £150,000 project to link two sewers.

The road has been shut from Oban Drive to the junction with Fergus Drive since January 12. It is expected to remain closed for another few weeks.

They have launched a petition calling for compensation to make up for their losses. It has already gathered more than 400 signatures.

Derek Hoy, 34, co-owner of Hippo Beers, said some retailers had seen their takings drop by 50%.

He said: "Apparently they couldn't find a way to do the work without shutting the road.

"We understand that but it has definitely had an impact.

"We're probably about 25% down on what we'd normally be. I know some of the other shops are as much as 50% down."

Mr Hoy felt the lead up to the road closure - a major route in the West End - was "poorly managed".

He added: "We were told two weeks before Christmas the road was going to be closed but we didn't really get any more information apart from that.

"So in terms of getting deliveries in, supplies being cut off, rubbish being collected, and things the local residents need to know as well - none of that was communicated.

"In fairness since then, Scottish Water and the council have been doing what they can."

Antje Karl, 39, has owned Yarn Cake, a knitting cafe, for five years.

She said this month has been "horrendous".

She added: "The contractors have been as helpful as they can be but we have seen a drop in our takings. We just don't have the footfall we're used to.

"It doesn't help that it looks like a building site.

"It is a struggle anyway as an independent business so we need all the help we can get."

Jim Mullen, 53, has owned optician QMI since October last year.

As a new shop to the area, he said it was difficult to tell the effect the closure was having.

But Mr Mullen said he expected it to be a lot busier in January.

He said: "This is a good stretch of shops.

"With the road closed I'm just not seeing the footfall or the number of customers I expected."

Mark Maclaren, Scottish Water's regional communities team manager, said: "This type of work can't be carried out without some disruption but we can assure road-users, local residents and businesses that we are doing everything possible to minimise any inconvenience.

"We would stress that any short-term inconvenience will be far out-weighed by the long-term benefits this investment will deliver."