BUSINESSES are the first casualties feeling the pinch of the closure of a major Oxford route.

St Clement's was closed yesterday and will remain shut for three weeks as engineers reconstruct and resurface the road and Thames Water repairs a deep sewer.

Buses and cars have been diverted along residential streets, including Morrell Avenue, Union Street and Jeune Street - but the feared traffic problems did not materialise yesterday.

However the lack of passing trade is worrying local businesses.

Kumar Suresh believes the works have already started to affect his newsagents on St Clement's.

Mr Suresh said: "After a couple of hours I had already noticed a big difference in the number of customers.

"The local residents and people who normally use the bus stops on St Clement's aren't here today and some 20 to 30 local residents who normally come in, haven't.

"I'm worried because I rely on these people to keep me going. I'll just have to wait and see, but based on the morning rush hour I think it's going to make a big difference."

Katrina Hulinova, who works in Le Petit Pain, also said there had been a noticeable difference in business on the first morning of the roadworks.

Miss Hulinova said: "It's definitely quieter than normal. We still have the regulars that live locally coming in, but we haven't got the customers from the bus stops coming in."

Alan Grovenor, owner of Sevenoaks Hi-Fi, said the roadworks were "killing" his business.

Mr Grovenor said: "Customers can't get down to see us and with all the warning signs out saying avoid the St Clement's area - it's a disaster.

"Last time we had this six years ago we got a measly £300 off our council rates bill. I think I'll be in touch with the council again, but it's going to need all the local business owners to try to put some pressure on them."

Simon Mathieson, manager of local buses for Stagecoach, said he had been surprised at how smoothly everything had gone.

Mr Mathieson said: "It's going better than I expected for the first morning. The biggest issue has been keeping an eye on the bus stops to make sure that people are moving up to the stop at the bottom of Headington Hill.

"So far, so good really. It is the school holidays, so it's not as busy as it might normally be. But hopefully people are listening to the advice and staying well clear."

All airport coach services will take a different route into and out of Oxford during the work.

They will travel to and from their destinations via Marston Ferry Road and Headington.

Oxfordshire County Council said the first day had gone smoothly.

But transport manager Kevin Haines is warning commuters not to become complacent.

He said: "Different days bring different traffic flows."