SHOPPERS and traders in Nelson face Christmas misery after developers revealed work to complete a £4million town centre development will not be finished until next year.

Work to extend Pendle Rise Shopping Centre was expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

However, the contractors behind the scheme, Nelson-based Barnfield Construction, said it now expected building work to last until October. That means traders will only then be able to move into new units and fit out premises - so they won't be open for business until next year.

The company has blamed the wet August weather and problems with fibre optic cables obstructing the original access route for the delay.

Existing traders - already struggling because of the effect the work has had on their businesses - today hit out at the delay.

Harry Dahmke, 47, of Oddfellows cafe, Leeds Road, said: "When the work first started I almost went bust. In January I had to make an employee redundant. Now I just want the work to be finished."

Jane Pickering, 50, owner of Jane Boutique, Scotland Road, said the shops used to attract more passing trade.

She said: "The developers behind the project should be made to pay. Rates should be given back to people affected."

Shabaz Shah, 25, assistant manager of Multi-Choice, Scotland Road, feared for the future of the business.

He said: "Once the work started, we lost half our trade. Usually at Christmas trade isn't too bad but this Christmas I think it will be dead."

And Nelson councillor Mohammed Iqbal has blasted the company for the delays.

He said Barnfield should pay compensation to shopkeepers for the delays and said shoppers would not enjoy their Christmas shopping.

"He said: "I don't believe the project will be finished for Christmas, it might as well be Christmas 2005 by the time it's finished."

Work to extend the centre by two large units began in August 2003 and will see part of Place de Creil disappear. General hardware chain Wilkinsons will occupy about two thirds of the new building.

The development, by Manchester-based developers Modus has attracted criticism from residents, traders, and councillors, who claim shoppers are staying away from the town centre.

Barnfield contracts manager for the project, Glenn Wilson, said Wilkinsons will move into unit A by the end of the month to start fitting the store out, opening just after Christmas.

He said: "We have a had a few problems on the site with fibre optic cables that were in the way of the buildings.

"We have had to get the access to unit A redesigned and it's knocked that part of the building back.

"The weather in the last six weeks has been horrendous.

"When the weather is like that stone work cannot be done."