Villagers are furious after learning their main street is to be closed for six weeks for roadworks - just days after a current set of repairs are complete.

So far this year the streets of Hurstpierpoint have been dug up by electricity and water works companies.

Road closures, temporary traffic lights, and diversions have devastated the local economy as bottle-necks and traffic jams have forced shoppers elsewhere.

Now gas transporter Transco has announced a plan to replace five miles of cast iron pipes with plastic ones on College Lane, working westwards to Orchard Way.

Work is due to start on June 2 and is expected to last for up to five months.

It will start exactly two weeks after Southern Water move out on May 18, and follows mains replacement work which began on January 14.

The High Street will shut for six weeks, with teams working intense shifts of 12 hours a day, six days a week.

It is just over a week since temporary traffic lights for the ongoing set of roadworks to plague the village were taken down.

Some traders say the next period of disruption could finish them off.

Four-way temporary traffic lights at the roundabout, which caused massive tailbacks and waits of up to 20 minutes, were only taken down at the end of April.

Mike Barnard, owner of camping shop South Outdoors, which opened six months ago, says his business will not survive.

He said: "It could finish us off. Just as we get over one lot of closures, new ones start. We've been told they'll last from June 23 to September.

"Southern Water's road works started just after Christmas, and trade died instantly. That first weekend after the temporary traffic lights went up we took no custom at all. Traffic was so bad people stopped coming in.

"To be fair, I don't see what Transco can do as the old mains have to be changed."

Tonight, local traders are to meet Transco bosses to discuss the plans.

They are demanding to know why companies can not work together to co-ordinate the closures and believe not enough consultation was carried out.

Andrew Hair, secretary of the Hurstpierpoint Traders Association and a member of Hurst 2000 community group, said: "We understand the work has to be done and that it's a safety issue but we must make sure we have a village left at the end of it. It's no good if it means all the shops are forced out of business.

"It doesn't make sense to keep digging up the High Street. Just as one company replaces the tarmac and finishes, another company arrives to dig it up again.

"The consultation was far from adequate and not long enough. Transco was not aware we have a school bus and community bus which use the High Street, or that 500 children walk up and down it to get to school.

"We've already had electricity and water works companies digging up the streets.

"We want to make sure it's done with as little disruption to trade as possible."

Lucille Cuss, who owns gift shop Inspirations on the High Street, said: "None of us deny the works have to be done but we have a lot of questions for Transco tonight.

"This is our livelihood we're taking about.

"But we really want to stress the High Street will still be open for trade, just not traffic. We'd like to encourage people to keep using the shops. Now more than ever we need the support of local people."

A spokeswoman for Transco said: "Local authorities do try to combine works by companies but in this case it was not practical. We've decided to do the replacement works in one go, which is unusual, but hopefully it will benefit the village to have it all out of the way.

"It is essential work and part of a national replacement programme.

"We are still consulting with local people and look forward to hearing their views at the meeting tonight. They have some ideas as to how best to deal with the closure of the High Street.

"We will be letting residents know more as soon as they details are finalised."

Parish councillors are also invited to the meeting at 7pm, though it is closed to the public.