THE first vehicles could be driven along a new £21.7 million road in Taunton before Christmas.

The Northern Inner Distributor Road (NIDR) from Staplegrove Road, at Chip Lane, to Priory Avenue is on track to be completed by the end of the year, according to the contractors.

The news has been welcomed following months of delays and is seen as vital to the development of a derelict eyesore site that once housed the town's livestock market.

A Somerset County Council spokeswoman said: “The works are currently on track and due to be completed in 2016 as planned.”

The project has been plagued by delays, initially caused by heavy rainfall, but more recently down to problems with the road's route over Station Road.

The removal of the disused railway bridge was put back several months to May and a new bridge is yet to be installed.

Independent county councillor Mike Rigby has failed to discover the reason behind that delay - he refused to sign a gagging order barring him from revealing any information he was given on the issue.

He said: "If the NIDR is really on target, then that's good news, but let's not forget it's still more than two years late."

Once the NIDR is in place, Taunton Deane Council will expect to proceed with its plans to develop Firepool, with proposals for shops, with Waitrose having shown an interest in taking space, leisure facilities, including a cinema, and homes.