Mr Johnson was the most high profile applicant

Mr Johnson, one of the country's best-known MPs, now faces a selection process including open primaries where any Londoner can register to vote.

The others on the shortlist are Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot - all party activists.

The candidate elected in September will take on Labour's Ken Livingstone.

More than 40 people applied to be Tory candidate, of whom Henley MP Mr Johnson was the most high profile.

He had been shadow higher education minister before launching his mayoral bid, and was previously editor of the Spectator magazine.

He has also been a frequent guest on television shows such as Have I Got News for You.

TORY MAYOR SHORTLIST Andrew Boff - IT consultant Victoria Borwick - businesswoman Boris Johnson - former magazine editor Warwick Lightfoot - economist

Mr Boff is an IT consultant and former Hackney councillor, while Ms Borwick, a businesswoman, and economist Mr Lightfoot are both Kensington and Chelsea councillors.

Both Mr Boff and Ms Borwick have been in the running before but lost out to former minister Steve Norris.

The four contenders were chosen by a selection panel who considered all the applicants' CVs and interviewed about a dozen, a Conservative party spokesman said.

He said the panel was independent of the party's leadership.

All Conservative members will automatically receive a ballot paper and anyone else can register from Monday to vote in the primaries.

Mr Livingstone - who was elected London's first mayor as an independent and then won a second term after being allowed back into the Labour Party - has said he wants a third term.