Shopkeepers have accused town hall chiefs of doing too little to help small businesses after waiting more than five years for 'vital' parking restrictions.

Traders in Spring Grove Road, Hounslow, claim they are losing dozens of customers every day because the parking spaces outside their stores are always full.

They say bus drivers and commuters often leave their cars there throughout the day because it is one of the closest streets to the town centre transport links which is not part of a controlled parking zone (CPZ).

Himmat Sahni and other traders on the small parade first wrote to the council more than five years ago requesting a metered bay where customers could park free for up to two hours.

Traffic officers proposed a scheme last April, similar to that introduced in Thornbury Road, Isleworth, in which drivers would pay a nominal fee of 10p to use the spaces.

However, that is the last they heard and they are growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress, especially as the country plunges into recession.

"The council should be doing more to support small businesses, especially at a time like this when we're all really struggling," said Mr Sahni, who has run specialist bakers Jas Cakes for six years.

"We lose 30 customers every day because they can't find anywhere to park.

"Delivery vans often have to park on the other side of the road and carry boxes across, which is very dangerous."

Karanjit Jaswal, manager of Hounslow Liquor Mart, said business was suffering because so many town centre workers clog up parking spaces during the day.

"Our business is already totally down because we're having to compete with the big stores like Asda and a bit of help from the council would be nice," he added.

A council spokeswoman said: "We are investigating ways to fund requests for parking schemes throughout the borough, and this includes the Spring Grove Road shopping area.

"As soon as funding becomes available, we will work with traders to design a feasible plan for parking."