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It's been on the cards for many years, but the proposed route has been re-aligned to address some of the concerns about the impact on the Gwent Levels - ancient marshland, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI.

It's anticipated that formal plans may go out for consultation early next year, to be followed by a local public inquiry into the controversial plans - which would bypass the M4 from Magor, east of Newport, to rejoin it at Castleton in the west.

Tonight's programme visits Gwent Wildlife Trust at Magor Marsh, to hear their concerns, and meets residents of the village of Magor - some of whom are considering selling up rather than endure more construction work and a new motorway nearby.

The programme also meets business people whose living relies on the smooth running of the M4, and hauliers who, while welcoming plans for a relief road, say they won't pay the tolls that are likely to be imposed to recoup the cost of building it.

Experts insist the Welsh economy will suffer without an M4 relief road - but acknowledge that the right pricing structure for tolls can be crucial in ensuring that motorists actually use it to its maximum advantage.