Campaigners celebrate as oil drilling at Surrey Hills site is blocked

Defra's decision not to renew Europa's licence marks victory after 1o-year legal battle

Michael Gove has blocked drilling of a controversial exploratory oil well in the south of England, causing campaigners to celebrate but sparking an angry response from one of the firms involved.

Concerns over the impact on ancient woodland led the environment secretary to decide against renewing the lease at the site near Holmwood in the Surrey Hills, which is on Forestry Commission land.