The bypass will take traffic away from the village of Lamberhurst

The Highways Agency said bad weather and the difficulty of cutting through heavy clay soils meant the Lamberhurst bypass would not now open in 2004.

Work is now scheduled to be completed by the end of March next year, as originally planned.

The new road has been planned for more than 20 years and is part of A21 improvements from Pembury to Hastings.

The agency said problems with construction of a land bridge to maintain the historic access to Scotney Castle had also delayed the opening.

Work began on the �12m scheme in June 2003.