The new Largs Pier will not be ready in time for the Waverley summer sailings, it has emerged. this week.

The £6m project to re-build the historic pier is now due for completion by mid-August 2009.

The re-construction works are just three weeks behind schedule, primarily due to problems encountered when the contractor, George Leslie Ltd, uncovered Victorian wooden sheet piles in the old pier structure.

Speaking at the North Coast meeting of North Ayrshire Council, Lorna Spencer of CMAL, the asset company which owns Largs Pier, said: 'Removing the Victorian wood sheet piling is very time consuming to remove. This has only just came to light this week.' Largs councillor Alex Gallagher said: 'It is disappointing as not having the Waverley for three weeks in July is going to have an impact.' CMAL said they could understand the disappointment but were doing everything they can and had to act on the contractors" findings, and stressed that it was important the work took place in view of passenger safety in future.

Completion of the pier is now scheduled for the end of July and George Leslie anticipates being off site by mid-August.