Plans to link the HS2 line to Heathrow Airport have been dropped by the government, the Transport Secretary has revealed in a letter to Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve.

In a written response to a question posed by Mr Grieve, Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said no spur line to the airport will now be created - contradicting what was said in the 2010 Conservative party manifesto.

The manifesto stated linking HS2 - the first phase of which would cut through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on its way from London to Birmingham - with Heathrow would "provide an alternative to thousands of flights".

But in his written response to Mr Grieve, which was published yesterday, Mr McLoughlin said: "I am aware that the proposed Heathrow spur causes great concern to local residents. I would now like to make clear that we do not intend to build the spur as part of Phase One or Two of the HS2 scheme.

"In November 2014, the Airports Commission published a high-level review of the implications of a HS2 spur on surface access to Heathrow Airport, as part of the supporting technical documents for their public consultation on the three short-listed schemes for airport expansion.

"This review indicated that an HS2 spur is highly unlikely to be necessary to support any expansion of Heathrow airport."

Cllr Roger Reed, deputy leader of South Bucks District Council, said: "We are very pleased with the minister’s announcement which will significantly reduce the blight for many of our South Bucks residents."