A PUB landlady believes that a road closure could ruin her business.

Barbara Walker, who runs the Bay Horse in Great Smeaton, says that when road resurfacing work takes place during the next two weekends she could lose customers during what are normally her busiest hours.

The work is being carried out by North Yorkshire County Council and could last from Saturday morning until Sunday evening on both weekends.

Mrs Walker, who has owned the pub for two-and-a-half years, said business had only recently picked up after the foot-and-mouth outbreak, and losing trade now could have serious consequences.

She said: "I feel absolutely distraught. I can't afford to lose two weekends of trade - the business will not stand it. It doesn't bear thinking about."

While the work is being carried out, diversions will be in place, but access to the village will be via one road only.

"Only local people will know how to get into the village - anyone else in a car will see the yellow diversion signs and be immediately put off and turn away," said Mrs Walker.

"Sunday lunchtime is my busiest period and I cannot afford to lose that trade. I don't know why they couldn't have done the work during the week when people are away at work and children are at school."

A county council spokesman said the work was being carried out at the quietest time of the week.

"We apologise for any inconvenience, but the council is carrying out the work at the quietest time, when schools are not operating and people are not going to and from work.

"I can assure her it will be done as quickly as possible during those days," he said.

"There will still be access to the centre of the village and so if people want to go in and eat at the pub then they can do so.

"The resurfacing work does need to be done. We would get even more complaints if there were pot holes in the road creating dangerous driving conditions."