Upset Seascale shop owners have seen profits slashed after a Sellafield safety review led to a gate closure.

Sellafield's Calder Gate entrance is no longer open to contractors past 8.30am to ensure tighter checks on entering vehicles.

The nuclear site says changes have been made to increase security after a safety review.

But angry business owners, who were not informed about the change, have already noticed a steep drop in passing trade in the past few weeks. A meeting looks set to be held to discuss the issue.

"It has at least halved all of our business, it's been deathly quiet," said Helen Dunne, who runs Pudding Lane in Seascale.

"We would normally recruit staff after the summer when our kids have gone back to university but now we might have to look at laying people off."

Other businesses are facing the same problems including Gosforth Village Store, Gosforth Bakery and A Williams & Son butchers, Seascale.

Helen said: "We haven't been notified at all. From word of mouth we have heard it is due to security, but that's all they ever say. I can't believe they didn't think it would impact local businesses."

Her husband Michael said Sellafield were "supposed to be a local champion" and that "quite a few local businesses could end up closing".

Sellafield says it has now agreed to meet with the businesses after concerns were raised by David Moore, chairman of West Cumbria Sites Stakeholder Group, which scrutinises the nuclear industry in West Cumbria.

"This decision has been taken by Sellafield with no consideration or consultation with the local community. It hasn't ascertained the impact on local businesses," said Mr Moore.

"These businesses do rely on that trade, it makes up about 50 per cent of their business.

"I have expressed concerns and Sellafield is now going to get its socio-economic team involved to see whether it can mitigate the impacts."

In response to the complaints, a Sellafied statement said: "Commercial vehicles are able to use Calder Gate up to 8.30am but after this time they must use the main gate. This decision was taken following a security review.

"We understand decisions made at Sellafield Ltd can impact the local community and we are committed to working with local businesses to understand these impacts and help mitigate them."

But Mr Moore, who is also a member of Copeland Council's Executive, said: "I'm really disappointed we're now fighting a rearguard action. Some of these people are Sellafield's biggest supporters when it is criticised.

"The businesses are dependent upon the lunchtime trade. This could have been avoided in a meeting as quickly as possible."