This year's CV Show, which was due to be held on April 28 to 30  for at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, has been cancelled.The organisers said: "The commercial vehicle partnership, comprising the SMMT, RHA and SOE, and the CV Show Committee recognised in December that the economic downturn creates a difficult environment for vehicle manufacturers to commit to large international exhibitions.

Nevertheless, some 290 exhibitors signed up for the show.

They were asked whether they would support a re-focusing of the show towards an engineering-based alternative.

The results showed there was not enough support from those who had already signed up to attend to retain the credibility that the show.

 "We have obviously noted that just about every other show in this sector has been cancelled for 2009," said RHA chief executive Roger King.

"But the advanced status of ours did not permit us to cancel without careful consultation.

 "This was a difficult decision but, on balance, the right one.

"What we learned from this exercise was that despite a generally negative response to 2009, there appears a much more positive approach to 2010 which encourages the partnership to set plans in motion for a show in April of that year."

Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive added: "2009 will be an extremely challenging year across the motor industry but this decision, while difficult, creates the opportunity to ensure the 2010 event best reflects the changing needs of the road transport industry."