TRADERS in Rainham shopping centre have been given a further month's grace to move out before major subsidence work. Their landlord's agents have now told them they will have to be out by June 1.

Some shopkeepers have asked their solicitors to demand compensation from landlord City Sites. Others are calling for the structural work to be completed on one shop at a time to cause less disruption to trade.

During the six months of work, the ten shop managers will have to find alternative premises. Graham Harrison, owner of Bookmark, said: "We are staying put until the landlords make some concessions. It is better news that we have now been set a date for June 1, but rather than close the whole precinct for 28 weeks, we would like to see them to do the work on the shops individually.

"I am better off than some of the other traders, because I don't have any nearby competition, but the worry for the others is that some of the customers will go elsewhere while they are shut." Mr Harrison claimed the landlord had known about the subsidence problem for ten years and did not tell incoming tenants.

Some traders affected have written to their solicitors to forge an amicable agreement through Queensbridge Management, the agents for the landlord. Barry's Fruiterers, Morecuts butchers, Rainham Health Food Shop, Quidsaver, Boots the Opticians, Bookmark, Xpressions, Ascot Flowers, and Pet Supplies are the other shops affected.

The work will involve underpinning the buildings to deal with the subsidence. Traders will have to either find other premises temporarily or close for the period. A letter from Queensbridge Management told traders of the moving date and that shopkeepers would be covered under many business insurance policies. Queensbridge Management have not responded to requests for a comment about the situation.