WHILE the public and Mayor Sue Merrikin applauded the start of the Wyedean Forest Rally in Coleford, shopkeepers were angry that the town centre was closed on Saturday.

They say they lost business because shoppers could not get into town.

Several told The Forester that they had hardly any notice and were angry that nobody asked their opinion before arranging for the event to start at the clock tower.

Butcher Marian Voyce said: "Saturday is one of our busiest days and they shut the roads from 7am until the afternoon.

"Town was dead apart from couple of hundred men who came to see the cars. It was a ridiculous thing to do and some of my regular customers went to Monmouth for the day.

"Everybody said their takings were down."

Another who did not want to be named said: "The car parks were absolutely empty because nobody came into town.

"The rally fans came to see the cars, not to go shopping. But even then the turnout was disappointing.

"They should have had it from the council offices like they used to, not close to the town centre."

The rally left from Coleford for the first time in many years with Mayor Sue Merrikin waving the cars through the town.

"It went very well and the people of Coleford enjoyed it," she said.