Director general Mark Thompson also waived his bonus in 2005

According to the corporation, the BBC Direction Group had "collectively decided" not to take bonuses valued at about �350,000.

The directors said the lower than expected licence fee settlement had also contributed to their decision.

Director General Mark Thompson said this year - and the decision not to take bonuses - was "exceptional".

He added that he expected the directors to resume their participation in the BBC executive bonus plan in 2008.

"All of my colleagues on the BBC Direction Group met the majority of their objectives and were eligible for bonuses as part of their contracts of employment," said Mr Thompson.

"However, they and I have collectively decided to waive this contractual right on this occasion."

'Exceptional' year

The directors said although the BBC had "made progress" on diversity, "some specific commitments they had made on workforce numbers" would not be met.

The BBC had pledged to employ 12.5% of black and minority staff by 31 December 2007.

It had also promised to increase the proportion of black and minority ethnic staff in senior manager positions to 7%.

Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the broadcasting workers union Bectu, has welcomed the decision but said it "should also apply to top managers in all categories throughout the BBC".

Since the creation of the BBC Trust, responsibility for bonuses rests with the Remuneration Committee of the BBC Executive Board.

Full details of their remuneration will published in the BBC's Annual Report on 3 July.

Earlier this year the government agreed that the licence fee would rise by �4 to �135.50 in April, up to a maximum �151.50 in 2012.

It is well below the rise the BBC had wanted, which would have taken the fee to a maximum of �180 over seven years