The government's review of airport expansion will be delayed by four months following a court setback, the transport secretary has said.

On Tuesday the High Court backed a challenge from Kent and Medway councils over a decision to exclude the possible expansion of Gatwick from the current consultation process.

Alistair Darling told MPs on Thursday that he would not be appealing against the decision, and said that as a result the publication of a white paper would be delayed by four months.

Darling said the government continued to view it as "highly undesirable" to overturn a 1979 agreement between the then publicly owned British Airports Authority and West Sussex County Council not to construct a new runway at Gatwick before 2019

Justifying his original decision, he said: "We considered it important that people should be able to continue to rely on such a legally binding agreement."

But instead of trying to get the decisions overturned in a higher court, Darling said he would modify the consultation process to enable views to be heard on issues relating to Gatwick.

The consultation had been due to end on November 30, but will now be kept open.

"I intend to publish a further paper following the decision to include Gatwick in the consultation

"I will publish these further options in the new year. The consultation period will run four months from then," the transport secretary said.

"Inevitably the white paper which I had hoped to publish in the first part of next year will be delayed, at least until the autumn of next year."

Darling said he regretted the court decision would mean "an extended period of uncertainty for everyone".

"The important thing now is now to get on and reach a conclusion on what is a critical matter for the future of this country."