The end date for major roadworks that have been blighting a town for a year has been pushed back again – and it’s not clear exactly why.

The Orbital Park roundabout on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road in Ashford has been ripped out in recent months and replaced with a four-way traffic light-controlled junction.

Work started last May and was initially expected to take six months – but National Highways says construction will now not finish until late June.

It is not clear why further push backs have been made, but it is understood to be down to clashes in timetables between contractors carrying out the work.

Bosses have previously blamed cold weather, Operation Brock and issues at the Port of Dover for causing the delays.

While the majority of the junction is now up and running, some road closures are still needed before the scheme is complete.

Adela Montes Lopez, National Highways project lead, said: "We thank road users for their patience and understanding while we create a new signalised junction on the A2070 in place of the existing Orbital Park roundabout and Avocet Way junction.

“We expect to finish late June.

“To complete this work, we will be putting out some further closures and we ask people to bear with us during these final stages."

The controversial scheme, called ‘Bellamy Gurner’, is being funded by housebuilder Crest Nicholson, with FM Conway in charge of the build.

Some drivers have branded the new layout “confusing” and an “accident waiting to happen”, but bosses at National Highways say it is “too early to speculate” on the causes of recent accidents at the site.

As well as ripping out the roundabout, changes to the layout of the junction at Avocet Way mean drivers are able to turn right out of the new-build Finberry housing estate for the first time.