The decision to hold a public enquiry into plans to build a second Tyne Tunnel has been belayed due to the amount of objection to it.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was due to make the announcement today but the decision has been put back to September 20.

This will allow further consideration of the environmental impact of the project.

The new tunnel, which is being proposed by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority, would run between East Howden on the North bank and Jarrow on the South bank.

Although North-Eastern businesses are largely in favour of the project there has reputedly been up to seven hundred objections from local people, as well as a number of environmental agencies.

Provisional surveys have indicated that opponents of the scheme outnumbered supporters by more than three to one.

Environmental groups opposed to the project say that the delay indicates that the project is deeply flawed.