CHARITY shops say a controversial £2m road improvement scheme has scared off donors, leaving them “dangerously low” of stock to sell.

The Cancer Research shop in London Road, Headington, said donations had dropped by more than 80 per cent from 35 bags a week to just five since work began to replace the pavement outside their shop two weeks ago.

The work has left the shop next to a huge hole surrounded by a ring of steel with shoppers given just two feet of pavement to walk on to get to the shop.

Shop manager Glen Murray said since the work started donations had fallen to their lowest level since he began managing the shop three years ago.

He said: “The impact on the shop since the council began building work outside has been huge.

“People don’t seem to realise we’re still open, so we’ve seen a dramatic decline in people bringing in their unwanted items and customers browsing the shop.

“It’s extremely frustrating.

“All profits go toward Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work, so it’s important that people continue to support us.

“Me and the team work really hard all the time and our hard work just stands for nothing right now.

“It doesn’t matter how hard we try we’re just not making any money.”

“Since the building work commenced, custom has dwindled and stocks have become dangerously low.

“We have just got to hope at the end of the day the work is worthwhile and they do a good job.”

Assistant manager Juliana Negreros said the shop was also now missing its sales targets of £400 per week.

The charity has launched an appeal for donors to drop off unwanted clothing, homeware, books, CDs, DVDs, mobile phones and used printer cartridges to help the shop.

Work on the area between Windmill Road and Kennett Road began on Monday, August 2, but traders have been told to expect another four weeks of problems as their section of pavement is not expected to be finished until mid to late September.

The scheme, which includes the installation of a new bus gate in London Road to speed up bus journey times, will lead to a wider pavement in Headington and 19 new benches and 16 bins.

Sharon Walton, manager of the nearby Clic Sargent charity shop in London Road, said: “It’s a nightmare.

“I don’t know how many areas they’re digging up in Headington at the moment, but half the time the hole in front of our shop isn’t manned at all. Why do they have to dig up the whole area and disrupt everyone instead of doing it in different stages?”

Mrs Walton estimated sales at the store were down 25 per cent and donations down 30 per cent.

Council spokesman Owen Morton said the London Road improvements were running to schedule and expected to finish in November.

He said: “We are working to complete this phase as soon as possible. Unfortunately, large scale projects like this will always cause a certain amount of inconvenience to businesses, residents and shoppers.

“We are seeking to minimise this as far as possible, and are confident that the finished scheme will significantly enhance the shopping area.”