A Conservative minister has expressed anger over "misleading" information to residents affected by the HS2 high-speed rail project, which is to connect London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.

Among people affected by the London to Birmingham first phase of the line are those in the Aylesbury constituency where Foreign Office Minister David Lidington is the MP.

Mr Lidington met Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and HS2 Ltd representatives last week where he complained about more than 800 pages of the environmental impact assessment being missing from information sent out by HS2 for consultation.

Mr Lidington has also criticised HS2 Ltd for sending out letters to 140 householders telling them that access to their home for HS2 work would be needed for 203 weeks when the necessity was only for "two to three weeks".

The minister is also upset about a "misleading" letter sent to 15,000 householders about the effects of the HS2 work.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Lidington wrote on his website: "I am astonished and very angry that HS2 Ltd has failed to learn from their previous mistakes.

"They appear to have allowed their parliamentary agents to send an identically worded letter to every property owner on the entire route whose property is affected by the HS2 scheme, regardless of whether a property is due to be compulsory purchased or if access is required for a very short space of time on a temporary basis, for example to allow work to be done to electrical cables."

Ben Ruse, HS2 Ltd lead spokesman said: "The works on National Grid overhead lines in Aylesbury will take place over a two to three-week window. Unfortunately, residents were led to believe the works would take place over 203 weeks.

"In response to this, HS2 Ltd has made proactive efforts to visit the 140 residents to explain the true nature and extent of the works. We hope the situation is now resolved."

He went on: "The pages that were briefly missing from the environmental statement memory sticks would not have prevented anyone from being able to respond to the consultation. Also, it is not true that people have to respond to the ES consultation by the closing date of January 24 if they want to petition against the HS2 Bill.

"This is scaremongering and unhelpful. The rules of Parliament are clear, an individual, group of individuals or organisation that is directly and specially affected by the provisions in the bill can submit a petition after the second reading."

A source close to Mr McLoughlin said: "When Patrick heard about the error in the letter HS2 Ltd sent to some of David Lidington's constituents, he made it clear it was unacceptable and must not happen again.

"He also felt that the information sent more widely to people affected along the route should have been clearer.

"His view is that everyone involved with the project must always be mindful of how sensitive such matters are for those affected and ensure they act accordingly."