The residents of Burton Green, a village in Warwickshire, have spoken out about the nightmare of living in what's been labelled the "worst-affected" area by HS2. Their once peaceful community has been bisected by a 700m tunnel for the controversial high-speed rail network.

The ongoing construction work for the Burton Green Tunnel has left the village divided and its inhabitants distressed. Shocking images reveal how the works have sliced through the heart of this picturesque village, turning daily life into a "daily nightmare, according to locals.Fuming villagers say their homes vibrate due to the loud machinery while dust and dirt reaches into gardens as surrounding countryside is destroyed.Many residents have already moved out of the area and those who have remained have revealed how their lives have been blighted by the works.When plans were announced for the tunnel the village was billed as potentially being the worst affected by the controversial high speed rail network.And five years on many living in the village, which dates back to the 1500s and has around 600 residents, say that has come to fruition after it was turned into an ", according to locals.

Residents complain of their homes shaking due to the noise from heavy machinery, while dust and dirt infiltrate their gardens as the surrounding countryside is decimated. Many villagers have already relocated, and those who remain share stories of how their lives have been disrupted by the construction.

When plans for the tunnel were first unveiled, it was predicted that Burton Green could be the worst hit by the HS2 project. Five years later, the villagers - whose community dates back to the 1500s and comprises around 600 residents - confirm that this prediction has become a reality, with their village transformed into an "eyesore building site".

Eileen Thompson, a 77 year old retired secretary and grandmother, has lived in Burton Green for six years. She described the situation as "absolutely horrendous from the start", lamenting over "the dust, the dirt, the noise - all the diversions and road closures, it has literally split our village in two."

Residents are voicing their despair as the HS2 project wreaks havoc on local greenery, wildlife, and the peace of once-tranquil areas. One local lamented: "There's been all the destruction of the greenery and lots of wildlife displaced. Some people have moved out of the area."

Another resident expressed discomfort: "Sometimes if I'm sitting in my house I can feel the whole place vibrating." Recounting recent disruptions, a neighbour said: "We had three weeks of them blasting concrete posts out they had erected wrong and the noise and dirt from that was appalling."

Fond memories of natural beauty were soured by current states: "Before there was a lovely walkway alongside what used be a Victorian railway with fields and wildlife on both side - compared to this mess we have now." One local shared their grief: "It's heartbreaking the see the destruction around us."

The community sees a constant turnover of properties due to the project: "They have bought empty properties and knocked them down as people have moved out. HS2 must own more properties than anyone else at the moment." Doubts about the project's benefits were also voiced: "It is just disgraceful how it has been planned and executed and I can't even see who its really going to be benefit." Skepticism extends to the practicality of the service: "We're just going to end up with a shuttle train between Birmingham and London that doesn't quite go all the way into Birmingham or all the way into London."

Critics predict a grim legacy: "It is a waste of billions of pounds of our money and I think it will eventually be known one of the biggest scandals in Britain." Karen Blake, 55, a creative director and mother of one, condemned HS2 for turning her life upside down: "HS2 is ruining lives; living here is like living on the M25."

Having sought refuge from city noise in Burton Green six years ago: "We moved from the city for a quieter life and it's been anything but." Residents are up in arms as a new development encroaches on their peaceful village life, with one local lamenting: "We were told it would be two fields over from the village but instead they have built it right at the back of us."

The impact on well-being is palpable, as another resident describes: "Some days the noise from the vibrations can really make you feel quite sick, all the dust covering our homes can't be good for our health either." The loss of wildlife and natural beauty has been profound, with one villager expressing despair: "Before we had fields for miles, loads of nature, we had deer and bats and now they have torn down thousands of trees in an ancient forest for this monstrosity. The emotional toll is evident, with residents saying: "What they have done is heartbreaking, people here have had their lives ruined."

The disruption to daily life is severe, with one person sharing: "I've been in tears at some points. I work from home and you just can't concentrate, you may as well be living on the M25." Garden use has become restricted, as noted by a local: "You can only use your gardens on a Sunday - because that's the only day they have off."

The justification for the project is questioned by a frustrated resident: "I just don't know how they can justify its existence or it's cost. I can't see who it's even going to benefit." Concerns about plummeting property values are widespread, with average house prices around £500,000 feared to drop significantly.

Phil Fairclough, 55, a father of two, reflects on the community's sentiment: "When the plans were announced there was all this talk saying we could be the worst-affected by HS2." He continues with a grim outlook: "And if you look around here now I don't think you could argue that - we've had our little village bisected by a railway line nobody here wants. I've had friends move out, it's divided and torn a community up. It's an eyesore building site. We think house prices will drop by around £100,000 at least."

HS2, initially planned to connect London with Northern cities such as Manchester and Leeds in a 330-mile high-speed rail network, has seen its plans altered.

Following a dramatic cost increase from £37.5bn to over £180bn, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided to proceed only with a line between the capital and Birmingham. The latest estimates suggest that the high-speed line between London and Birmingham will cost around £66 billion.

HS2 Ltd has stated that the Burton Green Tunnel, currently about 70 per cent complete, will be one of five "green tunnels" designed to blend into the natural landscape.

A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: "We are working hard to reduce disruption during the construction of the Burton Green Tunnel and have provided a new village hall for the community."

They added: "Excavated soil is being reused for nearby landscaping to avoid putting extra lorries on local roads and help blend the structure into the surrounding countryside.

"Once complete, the tunnel will shield neighbouring homes from noise and disturbance, with a new public green space for residents to enjoy.

"The existing Kenilworth greenway cycle and footpath will be reinstated along with new landscaping and tree planting to boost biodiversity and create new wildlife habitats."