Painswick people are pulling together to try to make the best of roadworks they fear may well deter visitors.

An exhibition of the proposals for a new £100,000 gas main through the village was a chance for more than 100 residents and traders to talk face to face with staff from Wales and West Utilities, which is doing the work.

Businessman Rob Lewis, who is a member of the chamber of trade-style group Painswick Matters, said traders and villagers now knew a little bit more about what was going to happen thanks to the exhibition at Painswick Town Hall.

"The project manager Rob Vallender said he felt the exhibition was extremely well attended," said Mr Lewis.

Wales and West has warned people in Painswick to expect five weeks of disruption when the main A46 through the village is closed during the work, which is scheduled to start in February and finish by the end of May.

Mr Lewis said: "They are hoping to get it done more quickly.

"We are trying to remain positive but it is going to affect us quite badly."

Painswick businesses suff-ered previously when there was no through traffic because of road reconstruction in nearby Pitchcombe.

This time, Painswick Matters and the parish, district and county councils are working together to make sure customers know the village remains open for business.

Free parking or repaying of shoppers' parking fees are two options under discussion.

Mr Vallender said the replacement of nearly 700m of old metal gas pipes with new plastic ones was essential.

"We hope that with the co-operation of local residents and businesses this important work will be completed with the minimum of disruption," he said.