CONSTRUCTION of a new and long awaited roundabout at Washford Cross has been delayed until February next year.

Work was due to begin on the project at the junction of the B3190 and A39 roads in November.

But Williton Parish Council chairman Cllr Robert McDonald announced the delay at the authority's monthly meeting on Monday.

Local councils have been calling for the improvement at the accident blackspot for year but cash-strapped highways chiefs said they could not justify the cost - estimated at around £500,000 several years ago.

However, the scheme is being implemented as part of French energy company EDF's plans to site a park and ride facility at the nearby Smithyard terminal for construction workers for the proposed Hinkley C nuclear power station.

Cllr McDonald, who represents the council on the EDF Transport Forum, said he had been told that contracts for the work were still being finalised.

The work is expected to take around 130 days to complete but councillors expressed some concern that construction would be taking place during the tourism season, causing more traffic chaos.