Shopkeepers are angry at not being informed about major roadworks in Surbiton's busiest street.

One lane of Victoria Road will be closed for about six weeks in July and August while the road is dug up.

But Kingston Council said it would consult with businesses once it had an official start date, in case the works are delayed.

One shopkeeper said: "The council needs to do the job and you have to suffer. The main thing affected here will be deliveries."

Newsagent CJ Patel feared a repeat of the New Malden High Street fiasco, which has seen the road dug up three times in as many years since its much-heralded revamp.

He said: "It is the first time I have heard about it. I would like to know how long it is going to be shut.

"I'm furious about roadworks because I live in New Malden. It is just a disaster. Someone should have been sacked for it. I hope they don't make the same sort of mistake.

"The roads in India are better than the ones in New Malden."

The resurfacing works will include repairing the pavement outside the old post office and Woolworths and fixing the road outside the bus stop near Barclays, which is causing drainage problems.

Punit Dawar at Elite Housewares said: "We have not been informed. No one came to ask anything about this. If it is for six weeks it is going to affect us, as right now we are struggling a bit."

Mila Nikolic, Landlady at the Surbiton Flyer, said: "Pub trade has already gone down and it will be even worse. They are putting up business rates every day and it is ridiculous.

"They should give us a discount on business rates while this is happening. I haven't experienced any problems with the road so far so I don't really see what is going to be better than it is now."

Dave Springle, traffic manager for Kingston Council, said: "Victoria Road was due to be reconstructed last year. What we are doing in July/August is doing a partial resurfacing of Victoria Road prior to the Surbiton Festival.

"The traffic management hasn't yet been confirmed. We are looking at keeping it open in one direction so full access can go to shops and cause minimum inconvenience to businesses but until I have confirmed traffic management and met with the contractor we can't give a start date.

"I will be consulting with businesses prior to that start date. The diversion route will be along Maple Road."