BLUNDERING builders who accidentally filled a sewer with tons of cement might force a city-centre restaurant out of business.

Restaurateur Jack Kriakous, co-owner of Crisp on Princess Street near Albert Square, has seen his takings fall by more than 60 per cent on last year due to construction work next door.

He says his customers have been driven away because builders working for the Eric Wright Group have caused so much disruption while building a six-storey office block.

The pavements on both sides of the street have had to be closed while United Utilities rebuilds a 35m sewer four metres below the ground after the firm accidentally drove foundation piles down into the sewer and then filled it with cement.

And while the repair work is completed, sewerage is being pumped from the drains into another sewer causing a terrible stink. As well as the blunders, Mr Kriakous says the noise, dust and smoke is affecting trade and leaving him with no option but to pump money into his failing business.

Mr Kriakous said: "The construction work started in October and it has affected our business quite badly. Our takings are down between 60 and 70 per cent on last year.

"I've written to the council and the construction firm about the problems but nobody is helping. The sewer was filled with cement, which means most of the pavements have been closed, so customers find it very difficult to get to the restaurant.

"There's tables and chairs on the pavement outside and they were full at lunchtimes last year but now nobody wants to sit out there. We've asked them to stop the drilling during lunchtimes, and the company agreed, but now I have to go out all the time and ask them to stop and there's also the smell of gasoline.

"The work has caused cracks in my ceiling and I have had to get decorators in to repair it. It's a terrible situation for us. We opened in 2001 and offer freshly-made food at good prices, but if I have to keep investing money at this rate we may have to close our doors."

Andrew Simkins, spokesman for the Eric Wright Group, said: "We are aware of Crisp restaurant's problems and understand the effect that some of the operations have had on their business.

"However we have taken and continue to take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption to them and our other neighbours during the complex work being carried out on this site."

Lee Watson, spokesman for United Utilities, the firm repairing the sewer, said: "It has been quite a difficult job trying to rebuild the 35m sewer after it was filled with cement by a third party.

"It is four metres below ground, so we have had to dig down quite far. We appreciate we have inconvenienced both our customers and businesses in the area and caused traffic problems, but there was no alternative but to complete the repairs.

"Clearly we'd like to apologise for the inconvenience caused. The job was finished today (Wednesday) but we're not allowed to move the barriers on work days, so they should be moved by Sunday."

Construction of the office block is going to take another 10 months.

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