THREE companies have been awarded a contract to start work on the £1billion M4 relief road scheme in Newport.

Construction firm Costain has been jointly awarded the contract by Welsh government alongside Vinci Construction and Taylor Woodrow.

The news came after a High Court judge retired to consider whether to quash the Welsh Government's decision to go ahead with the controversial "black route" for the M4 relief road.

Friends of the Earth Cymru are challenging the Welsh Government’s decision to build the £1 billion motorway through the Gwent Levels.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said today: “The first stage of an early contractor involvement contract has been awarded to a joint venture of Costain, Vinci Construction and Taylor Woodrow with consultants Arup, Atkins and environmental sub-consultants RPS.

“This is for the scheme development and environmental surveys leading up to preparation and publication of the draft statutory orders and environmental statement and assisting with the anticipated public local inquiry into the M4 corridor around Newport.

 “They will be working with Welsh Government and its technical advisors to progress the scheme to the publication of draft statutory orders and environmental statement in Spring 2016.

 “Progression to the second stage of the early contractor involvement contract is dependent upon the successful completion of the statutory processes, agreement of the construction target cost and the availability of Welsh Government funding.”