The taxpayer will not pay for delays to work on a crucial section of the Aberdeen bypass, infrastructure secretary Keith Brown has said.

The completion of the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) has been delayed by up to a year and the road may not open until next winter.

On Wednesday, Mr Brown confirmed any extra costs will be borne by the consortium of contractors behind the £92m section of the project.

He told a meeting of the Scottish Government's rural economy and connectivity committee: "The contractor is only paid when the road is open.

"The only payments that we make in relation to the road being completed are those set out in the contract."

The Aberdeen Roads Limited consortium, which includes Morrison Construction, Balfour Beatty and Carillion, failed to carry out key earthworks before winter began.

Concerns have been raised over an alleged lack of transparency from Scottish ministers about the problem.

The £745m AWPR is expected to cut journey times through Aberdeen and will see the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of the A90 turned into a dual carriageway.

It is the largest roads project currently under way in the UK.