The 'pingdemic' and other issues have led to delays in the £2m refurbishment of Dorchester's Municipal Buildings.

It had been hoped that the first phase, reroofing the building, would have been completed by now – but is now more likely to be completed in mid-September.

Town clerk Adrian Stuart says the recent increase in calls for people to isolate after coming into contact with people who have Covid has led to the loss of key skilled craftsmen at inopportune moments.

Other Covid problems have included a difficulty in getting some building materials because of factory closures earlier in the pandemic.

Mr Stuart says other, unforeseen, delays have included the state of some sections of the roof when tiles and slates were removed – in particular around the apse at the north end of the Corn Exchange where an iron structural frame was found to be badly corroded.

"The current plan is that the external scaffolding will start to come down in the second half of September, but this is still very dependent on the pingdemic easing," said the town clerk.

Parts of the building date back to 1847.

Other works planned as part of the project will see new offices build to the rear of the building which will house town council and Dorchester Arts staff, the council then selling its current offices nearby in North Square.

The council is also planning to install a biomass boiler, if agreement can be reached, offering the potential to sharing its heat with nearby buildings.

Town councillors have said that the ambitious project should not result in an increase in the town share of next year's council tax and, in time, will produce costs savings.

The decision to go for a biomass boiler has proved controversial with some residents claiming that it is not the greenest choice and has again been criticised in a leaflet put out this week by Dorchester Conservatives.

They believe the boiler will add to pollution in the area and have challenged the town council to produce supporting evidence that it will not.

A re-modelling of the front of the building is still being discussed along with upgrades to insulation and lighting, solar panels and an improved sound system and new seating.