Councils fear legal challenges as transport plans are delayed

Olympic transport plans are "significantly" behind schedule and London residents and businesses will not learn of the details until four months before the Games, a government report warns.

The National Audit Office called for "urgent" action to ensure the public are aware of plans for parking and traffic management around venues - which will affect millions of Londoners and are considered potentially more disruptive than the VIP-only Zil-lanes.

Auditors said detailed transport planning work has seen estimated costs rise by £77million.

Even as Games organiser Locog insisted that there were no problems, the audit office said there was "no room for further delay" as the planning application will be submitted in March.

London boroughs which must implement the plans now fear there will be no time to respond if there is a legal challenge.

Local area transport plans set out street-by-street changes to parking, road closures and installation of lavatories and retail concessions along the "last mile" spectator walking route to venues.

LSE transport expert Tony Travers said: "This is clearly not good news. There is now no time to change much in response to the consultation and we will only find out whether the Olympic transport works once the Games begin."