THE discovery of an ancient set of public toilets has contributed towards a roadworks hold-up.

A major project to add bus and cycle lanes to Edward Street in Brighton was started in early November 2013.

Brighton and Hove City Council has cited the toilet block find as one of many reasons for delays.

The council had hoped the scheme would be finished by last November before telling The Argus it would finish by the end of January.

Following the unearthing of the toilet block remains, the council has now said an end date of March 20 “is not a promise, it’s a target”.

A council spokesman said: “Construction projects are famously unpredictable.

“When a date is given for completion, that needs to regarded as a target rather than a promise.

“You never know exactly what will be found under the ground or what the weather will be like.

“In the event the weather often prevented work and we found the remains of a public lavatory beneath the surface.

“We’re improving this junction as residents requested by adding in much-needed pedestrian crossing facilities, we’re doing that as fast as possible and apologise for any inconvenience.”

The spokesman told The Argus in January that costs for the works were running at about £1.5 million.

About a third of this is for resurfacing the road and some of the cost has been met by the Government.