The decision to move Britain's main motor show back to London after an absence of almost 30 years is aimed at re-establishing the British show as a world-class event.

After being staged every two years at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) since 1978, the British International Motor Show will be held at the ExCeL centre in London's Docklands in 2006.

"The motor industry is backing a bid which promises to deliver a world-class event in the world's greatest city," said Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which organises the show.

He went on: "We believe a move to ExCeL will build on the show's rich history, giving the motor show a platform that will reclaim its international reputation as a premier league event."

ExCeL beat bids from the NEC and from Earls Court -- the west London centre which used to stage the show.

Mr Macgowan said: "While we understand this decision will come as a disappointment to the Midlands, the reality is that ExCeL presented a very strong bid while the NEC was unable to deliver a proposal that responded to market demands."

Rumours about the future of the show at the NEC were rife even throughout last year's show, although organisers the SMMT always played them down.

Perceived problems highlighted by critics included access to the exhibition site, particularly by rail at the height of multi-million pound maintenance work on the West Coast mainline.

Sue Battle, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is a real blow to the NEC and to the business community in Birmingham and Solihull that the 2006 Motor Show is going to London.

"We regard the NEC as the natural home for this prestigious show. The 2004 Motor Show, staged at the NEC, was a real winner with many new and exciting features. The feedback from visitors was universally positive."

The first show at the NEC in 1978 drew 908,000 people. Since then the average has been about 600,000, but this year's NEC show attendance, although higher than in 2002, was only 461,000.