By Caroline Robinson

Copyright bbc

The council said the work was necessary to improve safety and ease congestion between Forches Cross and Stover.

Traders in Newton Abbot previously said they were “deeply concerned” about the closures.

Business owners issued pleas to say they were still “open for business” once work began on Thursday.

Mr Joyner said his protest would continue until traders got the support they had asked for.

“We have 25 vehicles and will park them around every morning until they can’t actually do anything and then maybe they’ll start to look after us and start giving us some support,” Mr Joyner said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said officers attended the site after being told a lorry had blocked access to a closure on Bovey Tracey Road, near Forches Cross.