Plans to build a tram system to cut congestion between Bristol and a busy shopping centre have come off the rails after years of debate.

The �200m tram scheme provoked arguments between Bristol City and South Gloucestershire councils who could not agree on a single route.

Bristol councillors wanted the line to go to Parkway station in the north east of the city, while their South Gloucestershire counterparts wanted it to encourage shoppers to visit the Cribbs Causeway mall.

Now councillors in South Gloucestershire have been forced to shelve their plans in favour of the Parkway route.

Council deadlock

The councils originally wanted six routes through the city - one of which was to have opened this year - but had to cut down to just one line.

Negotiations between the councils reached a deadlock over the route of the tram earlier this year, threatening �160m of government funding for the project.

Things were looking up when they came to a compromise, agreeing to work together to see which plan was more viable.

Now city councillors say the revised tram route should be up and running by 2007.