A5 appeal to be heard later this year, says minister

More than 50 people have died on the A5 since 2006

A Stormont department's appeal against a ruling that the long-delayed A5 road project cannot go ahead in its current form will be heard later this year, Stormont's infrastructure minister has said.

The 58-mile (94km) £1.7bn project was given the green light by Stormont ministers in October last year.

In June, a court found the Department for Infrastructure's plans for the road did not comply with climate change targets.

Minister Liz Kimmins said DfI officials have now lodged an appeal against that ruling.

It will be heard in December, she added.

"Despite the setback of the judgment, I am determined to find a way forward that sees the road built as soon as possible to ensure that we save lives.

"The most important point made by the court was the need for a new and safer A5 dual carriageway - that is my focus," Kimmins said.

The A5 is a vital artery of the Northern Ireland road network - more than 58 miles long, it has more than 200 side roads connecting to it

What is the A5?

The road is the Northern Ireland part of the major arterial route that connects the north-west of the island - Donegal and Londonderry - to Dublin, via towns including Strabane, Omagh and Aughnacloy.

The dual carriageway scheme was first announced back in 2007, but has been beset by a number of delays.