Work affecting ancient woodlands in the path of HS2 has been put off until next year, the company building the high-speed railway has said.

Last month Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ordered HS2 Ltd to halt clearances of ancient woodland for the rail project while the scheme is reviewed, unless they were necessary to avoid major costs and delays.

The scheme is being reviewed by the company's former chairman Douglas Oakervee, who was commissioned by the Government to analyse whether and how the project should continue.

An HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: "As highlighted by the Secretary of State, during the Oakervee Review we must strike a sensible balance between keeping the programme on track and recognising that some works cannot be undone.

"We have assessed 11 ancient woodlands, parts of which were due to be affected by preparations to build Britain's new high-speed railway this autumn, during the period of the Oakervee review.

"We will also take measures to protect wildlife to ensure they are not affected when work begins in early 2020."

Other preparatory works including "low-level vegetation clearance", fencing and preparation of site access will continue, the company said.

Amersham and Chesham MP Dame Cheryl Gillan welcomed the decision on social media, tweeting: “Excellent news on the HS2 moratorium on destroying our precious woods.”

The Woodland Trust welcomed the news that work in all ancient woods would be deferred until the completion of the HS2 review.

Director of conservation and external affairs at the Woodland Trust Abi Bunker said: "This is the right decision, but it has come very late in the day and only after much pressure from the Woodland Trust and many other organisations and individuals.

"We remain concerned about the fact that HS2 will still be carrying out some work at these sites.

"The richness of ancient woodland isn't just about trees. It's also the vegetation, the soils and the wildlife that makes ancient woodland a special irreplaceable habitat.

"Work that permanently affects these habitats like clearing vegetation and evicting bats and mammals must be stopped too while the review is completed. We will be watching closely."