CHANGES to the HS2 route will lead to the creation of a new tunnel - prompting a south Bucks MP to make a fresh appeal for one to be built in the county.

HS2 Ltd, the company behind the proposed multi billion pound high speed railway line, has confirmed part of the route will go underneath the A38 at Lichfield in a tunnel instead of over a viaduct, as had been originally suggested.

Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan hopes the announcement will set a precedent for a tunnel to be built the full length of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Parts of the line will go through the Chilterns in cuttings and uncovered 'green tunnels' but campaigners have called for a full tunnel to be constructed to reduce the visual impact caused by the project.

Mrs Gillan said: "This is a great result for the people of Lichfield. It should also reassure our communities in Chesham and Amersham that tunnelling alternatives can be agreed upon. It is more important than ever to press ahead with a request for a fully bored tunnel throughout the entire Chilterns AONB.

"If my colleagues are determined to press ahead with this scheme then it is vital that full protection is given to environmentally sensitive areas such as the Chilterns.

"If HS2 is still refining their plans to protect areas such as Lichfield they must look again at the damage to the AONB in the Chilterns and hopefully extend the tunnels to produce the maximum protection for the area."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "This decision underlines the ongoing work HS2 Ltd is doing with communities along the route to ensure the construction of this vital new railway takes their views into account.

"I am confident that by working together we can ensure HS2 is designed in the right way, and we will have spades in the ground in 2017 as planned."

Meanwhile Mrs Gillan is set to meet with members of Chiltern District Council tomorrow to talk about further tunnelling through the AONB, with the Lichfield decision likely to be discussed.