A shopkeeper says heavy-handed parking restrictions have left him fearing for the future.

World News, in Harrow & Wealdstone - has been unable to take deliveries since Harrow Borough Council removed a sign allowing loading between 9.30am and 4.30pm. 

Instead, it has been replaced with a blue arrow advising motorists they are only permitted to turn left. 

Delivery drivers must now park a ten minute walk away in the high street, forcing staff to close the shop while they fetch their goods.

Every time they do this – which can happen more than once a day – the shop loses around £30.

Shop owner Bharatt Tailor claims the restrictions have had a huge impact on the shop and its customers.

He said: “It’s very difficult for us now, and we don’t know what to do.

“We’re suffering such great losses whenever we have to close that I don’t know what the future will hold for us as a business.”

Delivery drivers and suppliers have begun refusing to supply the shop, as drivers have been fined when they unload outside.

Mr Tailor added: “I’m trying to run a business – it is a little shop but it does quite well in this area, better than most, but this is really affecting us and our customers.

“I’m having to go to the cash and carry most days as we can’t get any more stock otherwise - what else am I supposed to do?”

A Harrow Council spokesperson said: "We are always working to make our road signs as clear as possible.  On this occasion we installed an illuminated left turn sign near World News convenience store to make it clearer to motorists that they couldn't turn right at the traffic lights. 

"Unfortunately in replacing the existing post to accommodate the new sign the old loading sign was not transferred to the new post. We will replace the sign as quickly as possible.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. The parking restrictions have not changed and owner of World News can continue to load and unload in the same way he always done. 

We will not change parking restrictions without consulting with businesses or residents and in this instance the current restrictions have been in place for over 10 years."