Bookshop boffins have come up with a scheme to beat the A34 roadworks - delivering books free of charge.

Blackwell's predicted major roadworks in Oxford would deter customers from visiting the city centre and hit trade.

So bosses came up with a scheme which promises free delivery of books for customers who phone a hotline number and quote "roadworks."

The store is offering free delivery to anyone with

an Oxfordshire postcode who telephones 01865 792792

and explains that the roadworks are causing them problems.

The offer covers the Art and Poster shop, Map and Travel bookshop, Music Bookshop, Children's Bookshop, Rare Bookshop and Paperback Bookshop, and will continue until the end of the works.

Delivery charges for a standard fiction paperback would normally stand at £1.75 and £2.75 for a large hardback.

The northbound carriageway of the ring road is closed between the Botley interchange and Peartree roundabout in Oxford for the next three weeks.

Thousands of drivers have been caught up in the ensuing gridlock and major businesses in Oxford have claimed the works are ruining trade. Drivers have been avoiding the city like the plague - and firms such as Halfords on the Botley Road have noted a severe drop in trade - on occasions up to 50 per cent less.

Ann Day, a Blackwell's store manager, said the offer was introduced on November 7 and had been taken up by a number of people.

She said: "We introduced it because we felt it would be difficult for customers to come and buy books because of the roadworks.

"I know if I was to think about coming in to Oxford I might think twice. This was a way to make it easier for people.

"It is not good for trade, especially in the run up to Christmas when we expect to do a lot of our general business."

Mrs Day could not say how badly Blackwell's business had been affected but said all traders in town were experiencing the knock-on effects of the works.

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