Flood prevention work in New Cumnock has been delayed due to supply shortages, East Ayrshire Council has said.

The project, initially aimed to last 18 months, started in April 2021.

It's hoped that the work will protect residential and commercial properties near the Afton Water and River Nith through a combination of engineering measures including 900m of earth embankments, 1200m of reinforced concrete walls and 600m of riverbank strengthening.

When work started on phase two of the works, councillor Jim McMahon hoped that it would prevent the people of New Cumnock from experiencing the devastating effects of flooding, as has happened before.

He said: “No one would ever want to see a repeat of the devastating floods of 2015 or the heartbreak it brought to so many good people.

“This extensive scheme will help to protect homes and businesses from the devastation of flooding and will bring security to the local community.”

The project was initially aimed to be finished by November 2022, but that was then pushed back to February 2023.

However, now East Ayrshire Council have said that the work should be completed by the end of this month, with an opening planned for the end of April.

The cost of the project rose from an initial £8.2m to £8.97m, courtesy of the delays last year.

Current costs are being evaluated as part of the ongoing contract administration.

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: "The delays were due to material shortages which has been a national issue for construction, and the November 2022 delays had a knock-on effect in part to the overall programme.

"Costs for the project are being evaluated as part of the ongoing contract administration."