Ongoing development works are being blamed after a sweet shop in Broughty Ferry was damaged by flooding for the second time in two months.
Owner Billy Dunn, 35, arrived at the Sweet Stop to open up Wednesday morning and was horrified to discover water pouring from the ceiling in the middle of the shop on to the floor he has just had to replace.
A similar incident just before Christmas caused the ceiling to burst and water to crash down right on top of him while he was working on his computer in the back of the shop.
He spent over £800 rebuilding the floor and claimed on his insurance, but will now have to start replacing everything again.
He runs the Grey Street premises along with fianc Sara Moultrie, 25, and they believe works to develop the former Jolly’s Hotel into a Wetherspoons pub is causing the problems.
Billy said: “Just as I opened the door I wondered what was on the floor and saw there was water pouring from the ceiling.
“The first thing I did was run straight through and start shouting and bawling at the contractors.”
The couple have contacted their insurers, who were sending someone down to investigate the cause.
Billy said it is tearing him apart to have to turn away customers when the business is already struggling.
He said: “This has got to the point where it is killing us and we are close to closing.
“Wednesday is usually a busy day for us but I am being forced to turn kids away. I have had regular customers walk past and say ‘not again’.
“Last time we were closed for a day, but this time it will be at least a couple of days, possibly up to a week.
“There is a lot more damage than last time. I think we are losing a few hundred pounds every day we are closed.”
Fiona Bartley-Jones, who owns the Katz Pyjamas next door, said there have been a “whole catalogue of events” since the development started, including leaks that affected her property before Christmas.
Now a group of business owners have arranged a meeting with their councillor to discuss what can be done.
Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are aware of complaints from some businesses in the town and Wetherspoons have received correspondence on these matters. At present we are investigating these incidents.
“Our aim is always to ensure local businesses and residents are not harmed in any way while we are developing a pub.
“We are sending a contractor to look at the issues this Sunday and trust they will be able to deal with the matters.
“If there are still some issues following that, then we will ask the owners who feel aggrieved to get in touch with us directly.”
A spokesman for Sanderson, the contractors carrying out the work, denied there was any link between the development and the flooding affecting nearby businesses.