IRVINE residents have lashed out after more work was carried out at the town's Bridgegate.

Work restarted last week to inset new granite seats and alter the side entrance at Bridgegate House.

At the most recent meeting of Irvine Community Council, members accused Irvine Bay, who are behind the multi-million pound redevelopment, of misleading the public.

Chair June Niven voiced her disapproval saying: "I think its a disgrace that they're still working on it.

"The question needs to be asked about how much more money this is costing and who is paying for it?

"They spent ages digging up the place and now they're back at it again, it's ridiculous." Another member added: "All they've done is open the place and given themselves the big pat on the back but yet they haven't told anyone that there's still work to be done on it.

"There's lots of barricades up so it's certainly not finished even though they've declared it open." However, Irvine Bay insist that the work being carried out is only minor and wasn't done earlier because of the Christmas market.

Speaking about how all the work will benefit the town in terms of employment and visitor numbers, Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay said: "Margaret Burgess MSP launched the new-look Bridgegate public realm at the end of last year, marking 18 months of major regeneration works in the town centre.

"Trinity Church has also been brought back to life, and we are now marketing this exciting development opportunity to attract a new use for this beautiful building.

"The Bridgegate, Trinity Church together with the council-led refurbishment of Bridgegate House and the new leisure centre, will bring people back in to the town centre and help to drive the local economy.

"We are working hard to promote Irvine to the rest of Scotland and beyond - the business incentives presented by Irvine Enterprise Area, together with other development opportunities in Irvine and the rest of the Irvine Bay area - to attract inward investment and jobs."