Motorists were last night warned to seek alternative routes during two months of roadworks in the centre of Oxford.

The work, in St Aldate's, which is due to start a week on Monday, will see a gas main being replaced from the Town Hall to Christ Church, before Oxfordshire County Council resurfaces the road from Carfax to the Post Office and improves drains.

However, St Aldate's traders, who rely on passing trade, fear the two-month-long £750,000 scheme, will damage their businesses, with buses that normally stop in the street moved further down the street, or to Queen Street and High Street (see map below).

A second phase of work, starting in July, will see the rest of the street resurfaced, from the Post Office to Speedwell Street.

Allel Benadel, a partner in La Croissanterie takeaway, said: "I thought they had finished all the roadworks around here already.

"We get a lot of people who come in to buy food and drink as they're waiting for their bus.

"This will definitely affect us."

Globe Newsmarkets' manager Arshad Hussain said: "If people are getting off buses further down the street, they will be more likely to use shops or newsagents down there.

"These roadworks seem to be going on all the time, with the council spending millions on them and it never seems to make a huge difference."

But Stuart Murray, bar manager of the Old Tom Pub, said: "You can't tell how it will affect us until it happens, but I do agree that something needs to be done about the drains. Every time it rains the drains overflow."

Ian Hudspeth, the council's cabinet member for transport, said: "This is essential work. If we don't repair the road, it will wear out completely and that would mean serious problems.

"By doing this work now, it will mean that no major roadworks should be required for many years."

The scheme will coincide with work in Banbury Road, as part of the Summertown Improvement project, due to finish in June.

Mr Hudspeth said: "While we don't envisage there to be a massive problem, there are always going to be problems caused by delays.

"We advise people to seek alternate routes into the city."