A scheme to transform the streets of Penryn will be finished on time if people stop moving bollards and fencing around the work site, a Carrick project manager has warned.

The Penryn Townscape Heritage Initiative is a scheme which aims to improve Penryn's town centre and this week the man in charge of the project has appealed for the publics help to keep the work on track.

Chris Matthews, project conservation officer at Carrick district council, said: "What we have found is that people are moving bollards and parking in the central areas of the town where we are trying to work.

"Work men have been spending around two hours each day trying to love cars that have been parked there over night. If this continues the work will go on and on."

But some traders in the town are angry because they say they are loosing money because of the disruption caused by the works.

Stewart Goode, of Saracen Wines, said: "Business is suffering and I am having to work extra hours to make up the losses and I am told there is no chance of any kind of compensation. A lot of my trade is from people pulling up outside and nipping in quickly. I know they are not supposed to do that but it is affecting trade."

Dawn Williams at WC Rowes said: "People are avoiding the town because of it, the town is dead because people are just driving through and not stopping."

David Turton, of Turton's Pharmacy, added: "People keep saying that the work will benefit the town but I am not so sure. It is not just about the effect on business now but the overall effect on the town and I suspect many smaller businesses may not recover from this."

But Mr Matthews urged people to continue to visit the town, he said: "We do realise that the work is disruptive and that it is making people avoid the town but we would ask people not to avoid Penryn, carry on with your usual buying practices but please use proper parking spaces.

"Also please adhere to where the fencing and bollards are otherwise it will delay the contract and that will effect traders further."

Mr Matthews added that the work was due to be completed in eight weeks time and that Cormac were trying to get as many people on site as possible to finish the job.

A meeting is to be held this week to discuss the possibility of removing the fencing and traffic lights when no one is working on the site.