THE HS2 high-speed rail line which would cut through north east Oxfordshire should be scrapped, a think tank has said.

The Institute of Economic Affairs says the real cost of the project could be £80bn — almost double Government estimates.

The 250mph rail link would be built between London and Birmingham running close to Finmere and Mixbury, north east of Bicester close to the Buckinghamshire county boundary.

The IEA report says the scheme should be dropped to save taxpayers the £3,000 per household the rail link could cost.

The report’s author Richard Wellings said: “It is time the Government abandoned its plans to proceed with HS2.

“The evidence is now overwhelmingly that this will be unbelievably costly to the taxpayer while delivering incredibly poor value for money.”