Construction of part of the Aberdeen bypass has been delayed by almost a year.

The Balmedie to Tipperty section of the project, which had been due to open in the spring of 2017, is now expected to open next winter.

The contractor on the £475m project failed to complete key earthworks before this winter, meaning work was delayed.

Economy secretary Keith Brown wrote to Holyrood's rural economy and connectivity committee setting out the delay.

Brown said: "On November 9, 2016, the contractor formally advised Transport Scotland that it was no longer planning or able to open the Balmedie to Tipperty section in spring 2017.

"The contractor confirmed that it had not completed key earthworks prior to the current winter period, resulting in a consequential impact on the programme for that section.

"Continuing the earthworks throughout the winter period may give rise to certain environmental risks connected with the control of run-off from the site and issues around the protection of weather susceptible materials."

The Balmedie to Tipperty section is now scheduled to open in the winter of 2017/18, he said.

The Scottish Conservatives said the delay was disappointing.

Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East, Liam Kerr, said: "People in the north east have been waiting for a long time for the Aberdeen bypass to open, and will be disappointed to hear about this substantial delay to a key section of the route.

"There have already been issues with the construction of the AWPR, including problems with compensation for farmers who suffered damage to their land, and pollution concerns over run-off into the River Dee.

"Now the minister has been forced into an admission that the Balmedie-Tipperty dualling has been pushed back by almost a year because works in advance of the winter months had not been completed in time."