A Reform MS has clashed with the finance minister in the Senedd over funding for the third Menai crossing.

The Welsh Government announced last week it was restarting development work immediately, two years after the project was put on hold.

Cai Parry-Jones, Reform's shadow finance minister, questioned the funding available for the crossing, telling Senedd members that the current estimate was £670 million, but "only £20 million to £25 million has been budgeted over the next five years for it, and that's just been for planning".

He told finance minister Elin Jones on Wednesday: "We can see where this is going, Minister: you'll kick the big spending can down the road while you're in the job, a future finance minister will announce we don't have enough money and then quietly shelve it."

Ms Jones, the former Llywydd, denied Mr Parry-Jones' accusations and said: "In government, in this Senedd, when you have been here a longer time you will know that large infrastructure projects take a long time to deliver."

She continued: "If you don't start today and start the planning and fund the planning, as this government is doing for the Menai bridge, then you will not get to that day when there is a third Menai bridge."

Ms Jones stressed the government is committed to both improving the resilience of the two existing bridges - the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge - and tackle the need for the third crossing.

She added: "We're committed to doing that work, to funding that work in its development phases, and, hopefully, both you and I will be here long enough to see that third Menai bridge built."

Mr Parry-Jones, originally from Bangor, also blamed the minister for the Welsh Government's first ever budget defeat in July - and highlighted her voting against her own government twice by mistake.

On Tuesday, Plaid Cymru announced it had struck a deal with Labour on a supplementary budget, which includes an extra £60 million for children with additional learning needs (ALN).

But Mr Parry-Jones said when the government needed to negotiate with Reform for the next supplementary budget, it sent the minister for government effectiveness instead of Ms Jones.

The Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf MS also claimed he has a source saying the "exact same thing" happened with the Labour negotiations.

He added: "The First Minister said he had learnt lessons over the summer. The lesson, it appears, is to sideline you."

"So, Minister, who is actually running the Welsh Government's finances? And given it clearly isn't you, is it not time to officially hand over the reins to someone more competent?"

Accusing Mr Parry-Jones of trivialising the questions from the opposition spokespeople, Ms Jones said: "When you've been here 27 years and you've only managed to vote wrong twice, then maybe I can come back to you and see what your record will be like in 27 years."

She continued: "There are really important questions that could be asked at this point, and you've asked whether it's Dafydd Trystan [Davies] or myself that turned up to a meeting with you."

"I am the minister for finance. There are others in this government who will also be negotiating with people across this Senedd, both on funding and on legislation. We do not work as a silo in this government; we work as a team."

The Senedd will debate the supplementary budget on Tuesday 3rd November.

Additional reporting by Ella Groves - ICNN Senedd Reporter