A council is facing bankruptcy over a £200 million relief road that was never even built.
Shropshire Council said it may have to borrow up to £100m to avoid running out of money by April 2026.
Liberal Democrat leader Heather Kidd said the authority was likely to approach the government for further financial support as it desperately tries to balance its books.
A report states that one of the largest threats to the council's 'financial security' is the funding of the now cancelled £215m North West Relief Road – a four-mile (2.5km) long bypass around Shrewsbury.
A staggering £39 million had already been spent on the failed project, including almost £22 million on consultants, before the new Liberal Democrat administration pulled the plug in the summer, saying it could no longer afford it.
