Luxury motor car maker Bentley is reverting to its old title after splitting with sister company Rolls Royce.

The Crewe-based company, known as Rolls Royce and Bentley Motor Cars since 1931, will be taking on its original name - Bentley Motors Limited.

Bentley Motors Limited was the title bestowed by the firm's late founder Walter Owen Bentley in 1919.

It was scrapped when the company went into liquidation and was bought by Rolls Royce in 1931.

Cars will continue to be styled using craft skills handed down the generations of the factory

Sarah Perris

The company's new name means it is no longer associated with Rolls Royce after BMW took on its production in 1998.

The renaming coincides with Walter Bentley's 114th birthday.

It also takes place ten days before Bentley's new GT Coupe is unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

Sarah Perris, the company's worldwide communications director, said Bentley had finally come out of the shadows of Rolls Royce.

"Only 3% of the cars made by the company in the 1970s were Bentleys which has gradually increased over the years to what will be 100% next year.

"The company has taken on an extra 400 staff over the last two years to concentrate on solely producing Bentley cars.

"Its cars will continue to be styled, engineered and built at Crewe using craft skills handed down the generations of the factory."