Roads in Banbury town centre which have been partly closed for three months during roadworks will re-open -- but traders fear the "crippling" trade slump will fail to pick up before Christmas.

The resurfacing of South Bar, Horsefair and North Bar has caused upheaval in the town since mid-August, with High Street traders claiming to have lost up to 70 percent of trade.

Temporary traffic lights and diversions will be removed and lanes re-opened on November 29, but minor road schemes are scheduled to continue until the middle of December.

The work includes installing a pelican crossing by St Mary's School, Southam Road, and traffic lights in Warwick Road.

John Washbourne, owner of extreme sports shop Radical, in George Street, blamed a 70 per cent drop in trade on the roadworks.

He said Banbury Town Council should do more to coax shoppers deterred by roadworks, diversions, long tailbacks and parking charges, back to the town centre.

He said: "People are not shopping in Banbury. We are missing out on the Christmas trade. Banbury is not just about Castle Key -- it's about the little shops in the High Street."

Mr Washbourne has distributed flyers around the town centre in protest.

Town councillor Keith Strangwood said the town council was helping to organise events which would attract shoppers back.