People living and travelling near an HS2 site should "not expect much change" after its construction formally started on Friday, a council has said.

Hertfordshire County Council says current works at the site by the M25 in Chalfont Lane, Rickmansworth, should have no immediate impact on local residents and road users.

The council says enabling and preparatory works have been underway at the site since November 2017 before main works commenced April 2020 after formal notice was given to proceed.

A spokesperson from the council said: "We do not expect much change for local residents or road users in the immediate future.

"The contractors have constructed slip roads accessing the M25 directly, so the majority of HGV traffic will not impact upon the network."

Details of current and future works in the area can be found on one.network.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the high-speed railway will create thousands of jobs and create vital links between urban areas.

Mr Johnson said: “HS2 is at the heart of our plans to build back better – and with construction now formally under way, it’s set to create around 22,000 new jobs.

“As the spine of our country’s transport network, the project will be vital in boosting connectivity between our towns and cities.”