A former model who lost out in her bid to get on the shortlist to be Conservative candidate for London mayor has failed to get herself reinstated.

Nikki Page wrote to Tory chairman Theresa May appealing for the decision not to include her to be reconsidered.

The most important thing is that London gets a mayor that can sort out the dreadful problems created by the Livingstone/Gavron regime Nikki Page

Expressing surprise that she did not make it into the final five, Ms Page said she had received widespread support from party members and the public.

But Mrs May said that there was "no reason to interfere" with the selection process adding only the shortlist of five would go forward to the hustings on Wednesday.

Front-runner to be Tory candidate in the 2004 election is former minister Steven Norris who was their candidate in the contest four years ago.

The final five

The other four are Tory MP Richard Ottaway, Andrew Boff, Roger Evans and Victoria Borwick.

Mrs May said: "I look forward to the party members having the best possible choice in our selection of the Conservative candidate for mayor.

Nicky Gavron is Labour's choice for London mayor

"Londoners can be sure that the Conservative candidate will hold Ken Livingstone to account for his failures and wasted years in City Hall.

"And with Ken Livingstone's poodle, Nicky Gavron, selected as the Labour candidate, it is clear that this election will be a two-horse race - between Livingstone and the Conservative party."

Postal ballot

Tory members in London will decide the mayoral candidate.

They will choose two candidates with the final choice made by postal ballot.

The results will be announced on 16 February.

Ms Page said she had been encouraged by support for her campaign.

"Most pleasing of all has been the backing I have gained outside our traditional base.

"I believe that the only way Ken Livingstone can be beaten, and London get the sort of mayor it deserves, is by building on this approach.

"The most important thing is that London gets a mayor that can sort out the dreadful problems created by the Livingstone/Gavron regime.

"I will do everything I can to ensure that is the case."

'Independent'

Ms Page has yet to decide whether she will stand as an independent candidate.

Ms Gavron, the current deputy mayor of London and Labour's candidate for the contest, beat her closest rival, Tony Banks MP, by a majority of 7%.

In the first London mayoral elections Mr Livingstone failed to become the Labour candidate despite winning the support of most London party members.

He won the contest as an independent and the official party candidate, Frank Dobson, took third place after Mr Norris.

The Liberal Democrats have yet to choose their candidate but senior frontbencher Simon Hughes is likely to be a frontrunner.