Flooding that devastated businesses and homes around Upper Street and Camden Passage is having a lasting impact on trade as footfall to the area drops.

A number of shops remain closed after suffering significant flood damage when a water pipe burst in December. The damage was estimated at millions of pounds and is the reason Upper Street is still a building site south of Islington Green.

However, it is not only those that remain shut that are losing money. Businesses who have been able to reopen claim the diminished number of active shops in the area means that fewer people are coming.

“Our shop wasn’t too badly hit and thankfully we were able to reopen quite quickly, but we have noticed a drop in the number of visitors because of what’s gone on in the area,” said Victoria Beau owner Emma Holland.

Beverley Pritchard from Haygen agreed: “There was an initial spike in interest in the area following the flood but since then things have been quite quiet and the boarded up shops could definitely be a factor.

“But I’d also blame the bad weather – it’s freezing cold at the minute and we’re just about to enter May – and also the fact that shoppers generally aren’t feeling too well off at the minute.”

Brew Box Bubble Tea, a café, has closed down as a result of the flooding and a number of other shops remain empty, including Kevin Page Oriental Art, which is currently trading out of a nearby location.

Thames Water has vowed no one will suffer a material loss as a result of the flood. It believes the burst was due to corrosion, but this is yet to be confirmed.