THE findings of a report into the economic benefits of HS2 was "economical with the truth to be deceitful", a council chief said.

The government hailed the initial findings of KPMG's study in September, which found the UK economy would be boosted by £15bn a year if HS2 was given the green light.

But more than 50 towns would be worse off if the project went ahead according to the full report - which was only released following a Freedom of Information request passed to BBC's Newsnight.

Chiltern District Council Leader Cllr Nick Rose told Cabinet this afternoon: "Well, well, well. It smacks of deceit and being economical with the truth to be deceitful.

"Aberdeen would lose out, Cambridge, Bristol, the list goes on of those towns that would lose out. It's becoming more widely known about the side effects of HS2."

Aberdeen could lose up to £220 million every year, Cambridge by £127 million, Bristol by £101 million, and Essex south by £151 million, the originally omitted data revealed.

Greater London (£2.8bn) and West Midlands (£1.5bn) would be the biggest winners from HS2, according to estimates in the original 92-page report.

KPMG used data from HS2 Ltd's assessment of the direct transport impacts of the scheme, which would connect London to Birmingham, and Manchester and Leeds.

Cllr Rose said the new information could result in Supreme Court judges referring a legal challenge up to the European Courts of Justice.

He added: "The Government may say we are going to carry on anyway but I think they would find it politically difficult to do so."