And anxious senior councillors are due to reclassify the risk rating around the 3.9-mile road to the highest possible level, in recognition of the growing uncertainty over its future.

The fate of the £274m scheme, to connect the Norwich Northern Distributor Road to the A47, is hanging in the balance because of environmental concerns, including those related to rare, protected, bats.

And there is increasing concern County Hall could face a situation where it needs to return the money the Department for Transport had already given for the project.

The government has provided £34m so far, used to pay council staff, consultants,........

© Eastern Daily Press