Concerns have been raised about work in a town centre car park which started this week apparently without any warning.

A large section of the Rope Walks car park is out of action while Wessex Water installs new pipes.

An area of the car park does remain open while work is ongoing.

The council car park is a busy one and is used by shoppers including those visiting the nearby Waitrose store.

Wessex Water has also begun work this week which has led to a section of a town centre street being closed.

Regarding Rope Walks car park, some residents have said no notice was given about the disruption, which caught many out on Monday, and say there was no information or signage to clarify the works.

Debbie Bond from the Bridport Chamber of Trade and Commerce said she was contacted by the manager of Waitrose to ask what was happening and that the store had noticed a difference in customers.

"It happened very suddenly on a Monday morning and it was a bit troublesome," she said.

"We don’t even have a time frame. Bridport is already notorious for its lack of parking."

Waitrose said it could not comment as Rope Walks was not one of its car parks but a spokesman said: "We understand that they are temporary works."

A spokesman for Dorset Council said earlier this week: "Wessex Water is installing some new pipe work. One area of the car park is still open, but more will be opening over the next few days as soon as it can be safely."

When asked about the lack of warning and signage, the spokesman added: "There’s been a glitch in the paperwork, but we’re working to remedy that as soon as we can."

Meanwhile, a closure has come into force this week on a section of a busy street near Bridport town centre.

The lower end of South Street is now closed between the junctions of Doctor Roberts Close and South Walk - a distance of about 200 metres - to allow for works by Wessex Water on the drainage and sewage systems.

The work is going on for two weeks - with a completion date of Friday, October 7 - however Dorset Council says the road closure will be lifted for this weekend.

A diversion is in place via East Street (the B3162) and the A35 (Sea Road South).