COUNTY council chiefs have moved to allay fears that work on Ammanford's new relief road has fallen behind schedule.

Residents have expressed concern that the final 100 yards of the project appears to have been left unfinished amid rumours contractors have downed tools.

A council spokesman insisted this week that the relief road was on course to be completed by November, as originally planned.

However, the Guardian understands the cost of the project has now gone up following unforseen problems concerning the local waterworks.

Engineering design manager Brian Jenkins conceded the new road layout has been affected by a major system of control overflows to the local sewer at the eastern end of the scheme.

"Discussions have been held with Welsh Water to agree necessary protection measures to this system," he said.

"Work on the scheme has now been delayed although some operations have had to be re-programmed and carried out in a different sequence to that originally intended.

"The western end of the scheme is significantly complete and work will now switch to the eastern end later this month."