The owner of a much-loved tea room has warned that she may have to close her business over "disruptive works" in the town centre.

Sue Noades, who runs the Betty Bumbles Vintage Tea Room in St Neots, has launched a petition for business owners in the Market Square to receive compensation while improvement works continue.

The Market Square project is a multi-million pound scheme which began in January 2024, which aims to improve the area. Works are due to take around 60 weeks to complete.

Ms Noades has described the works as "disruptive" and has said that because of them, she can no longer turn a profit. 

She said: "We triumphed over the struggles induced by Covid times and the soaring cost of living, only to be threatened by the improvements happening in and around the Market Square.

"Seven months into these improvements, we can no longer turn a profit and are looking at imminently having to close our doors."

Ms Noades, who also runs Bertie's Cocktail Bar in St Neots, has decided to take matters into her own hands and launch a petition to demand compensation for Market Square businesses.

The owner said that other Market Square businesses are at risk of closure because of the decrease in footfall since the project started, with some businesses having already closed.

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Ms Noades' petition demands "suitable compensation" for businesses affected by the work in the Market Square.

The petition reads: "We deserve acknowledgement and assistance for the financial perils inflicted due to this public project. An investment in our survival now is just as important as any future improvements to the Market Square."

The petition gained more than 500 signatures in less than 24 hours, with one supporter writing: "Having a lovely new Market Square surrounded by closed businesses isn't going to look well on the town."

The link to the petition can be found by clicking here.

Huntingdonshire District Council's Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, Cllr Sam Wakeford, said: "We have engaged with local businesses at all stages of the works to date, and adjusted plans as a result of their input.

"The works remain on track for completion within the original timescale but as with any project of this size, there will be some level of disruption which we are trying to minimise as much as possible."

To read Huntingdonshire District Council's response in full, click here.