TRADERS said although they had been expecting thousands of extra people visiting their shops, the reality was the town was the quietest they had ever seen it and said they were angry the town hadn’t been advertised more to visitors.

Zoe Powell, owner of Pins and Things, a needlecraft shop in Bethcar Street said: “My sales have been down by about 20 per cent. I’m very angry as visitors have not been made aware of the town centre.

“The park and ride buses should have come into the town centre too. We prepared ourselves for lots of custom but the Eisteddfod has done nothing for us.”

Hilary Cole and Philip Russell run electrical supply shop, The Plug, Bethcar Street.

Ms Cole said: “We can have up to 200 customers a day yet this week we’ve hardly had any.”

Owner of The Lunch Box cafe, Market Street, Sam Dighton said she had been having six customers some days last week whereas she is used to more than 100 customers each day.

Keith Davies of K & P Furnishers, Bethcar Street, who is also the treasurer of the former Ebbw Vale Business Forum, added: “We did expect it to be very busy but the town has been quiet. There should have been a lot more going on in the town centre to bring people in.”