London City Airport ID trial axed

The cards were then due to be rolled out across the country by 2012.

However, on Tuesday afternoon, the new Home Secretary Alan Johnson said changes in the plans meant the airport trial would not got ahead.

He added that while ID cards would still be brought in, they should be "a personal choice for British citizens".

The cards for airport workers would have come in under the CWIC scheme (Critical Workers Identity Cards), which would have replaced security passes and was a move supported by the airport.

After the announcement, a spokeswoman for London City said the idea would have saved money and "provided even more robust security".

"We shall continue to work with the Home Office to see what benefits can still be achieved, now that acquisition of the card is to be voluntary for everyone," she said.

Union officials were against the plans. Steve Turner of Unite said last year: "What does it say about aviation workers that they have been chosen to pilot this scheme?"

Opposition MPs also spoke out about the plans for compulsory ID cards, estimated to cost about £5billion.

The latest news means only foreign nationals living and working in the UK will need the cards - 50,000 of which have already been issued.