THIS month's start date on the £12million improvements at the Handy Cross junction of the M40 has been put off, because of a dispute about prices between the Highways Agency and the building contractor, Nuttalls.

An exhibition telling people about the work, due to be held at the Holiday Inn in High Wycombe, on Friday and Saturday, has been postponed until further notice.

Phil Barnett, the Highways Agency's project manager, said Nuttalls had been contracted to design and build the scheme and that discussions about building costs were continuing. He said he hoped the delay would not be long, and that work would begin in August.