WORK to replace Butts Bridge has once again been delayed with some residents now wondering whether it will be done by Christmas.

Knights Brown, the firm behind the development, had previously scheduled July as the finishing date.

But a number of complications has seen the project delayed several times.

In its latest update statement, the company said the bridge is “now broadly complete” with landscaping, fencing and brickwork left to do.

However, when excavating the roundabout they “uncovered a number of uncharted services and discrepancies”. As such there have been some “design changes”.

This has “inevitably” had “a knock-on effect”, meaning the new target date is the week of December 16.

Knights Brown said it knows residents “will be disappointed” adding it is “sorry for the continued inconvenience”.

However, it insisted staff on the ground are “working on all fronts to make progress as swiftly as possible”.

The French Horn pub, situated next door to the site, continues to suffer as a result.

Pub managing director Monika Krzykanowska told the Herald the situation has become “a real nightmare”.

Despite the mid-December estimate, it is her “suspicion” that “it is not going to happen this year at all”.

She spoke of incidents of “damage” caused to the car park and nearby infrastructure, on top of ongoing issues with access.

“As we already heard many times, we are not entitled to any compensation which is ridiculous,” she added.

All this has seen them cancelling events usually held around this time of year.

“This is really getting far beyond our patience now,” she said. “We keep losing trade because of our road being closed and the unbearable noise caused by the works and we are really close to giving up.”

A spokesman from the Ackender Road Residents’ Association said they are “naturally extremely disappointed” the diversions will stay in place even longer.

“The whole sorry saga is now set to continue for at least twice the duration that we were originally led to believe,” the spokesman added.

Nancy Clarke lives on Queens Road, often used as a rat run, where residents are “feeling a bit desperate that this will ever end”.

She spoke of collisions on the road, with parked cars and even a cyclist struck by through traffic.

“I certainly hope that Knights Brown is serious about finishing before Christmas,” she added.