HAMPSHIRE wildlife expert Chris Packham has vowed to continue his fight to save ancient woodlands threatened by the HS2 high-speed rail project.

The TV presenter, who lives in the New Forest, sought an emergency injunction to stop works which he claimed would cause "irreversible and irreparable loss" to sites that provide vital habitats.

High Court judges refused to grant the injunction, saying it stood "no realistic prospect of success".

But Mr Packham and law firm Leigh Day have applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to challenge the ruling.

He said: "Despite the devastating dismissal of our case by the High Court I am determined not to give in.

"Now is not the time to give up. now is the time to muster and protect what we have left. It is heartbreaking we were not able to stop the clearance works that have already begun."

HS2 is a highly controversial scheme which aims to provide rail users with faster routes linking London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.

Mr Packham's campaign is being supported by the RSPB and the Woodlands Trust.

He said: "I deeply believe that I have still have a strong case against his ludicrously environmentally damaging project and will argue in my appeal that the High Court judgement missed key points which still need to be answered."

David Wolfe QC, representing Packham, told the court that the ancient woodlands are "hundreds of years old" and are "simply irreplaceable."

He added that there was concern about the "irreplaceable damage" that could be done to these sites and that the "balance is in favour of pressing the pause button while the issues are considered".

The Government argued that Packham's legal challenge did not have a real prospect of success and should not be allowed to proceed.