UNCERTAINTY remains around when a decision will be made on the M4 relief road.

The idea of a relief road bypassing the Brynglas Tunnels has been in the pipeline since 1991, with the current version of the scheme on the agenda since 2011.

As 2018 drew to a close it looked like a definitive answer around whether or not it would go ahead was ready to be made, with Carwyn Jones saying he planned to make a decision before he left office as first minister in December.

But as time grew short Mr Jones revealed he was yet to see the report of the public inquiry into the plan and the advice of the Welsh Government's lawyers, and the decision was left to his successor Mark Drakeford.

And, speaking before the media on Monday, Mr Drakeford said he was still yet to see the report and advice.

"What I have said to officials is I want that advice to be the best possible advice," he said.

"It is better to get the best advice rather than the most rapid advice, and if they need a few more weeks to get me the best possible advice then that's how it will be.

"It will be an issue that will come my way early in this term."

Mr Drakeford, who is believed to be sceptical about the benefits of the long-awaited scheme, added he expected to be able to make a decision on the project "in the first part of this year".

"I don't anticipate we will be here next year without making a decision," he said.

The so-called black route, which involves a new stretch of motorway between Magor and Castleton, running south of Newport, is the Welsh Government's preferred version of the relief road.

But environmental campaigners have said the damage to the Gwent Levels would be too great, which others have claimed it would do little to solve traffic problems.