A NEW development at one of Gwent's top tourist attractions is set to go more than £300,000 over budget.

The new visitors centre at Cwmcarn Forest Drive looked set to cost £500,000 more than the £1.5 million planned. There was even talk of the project being abandoned the funding short-fall was brought down to £300,000.

Caerphilly county borough council officers said yesterday that the overspend was because of a two-year delay between estimating the amount needed and inviting companies to send in proposals, and inflation during that time.