LONDON, Sept 16, 2008 (AFP) - Representatives from New York, London, Milan and Paris reached a deal Tuesday that will secure London Fashion Week's place at the heart of the style calendar, the British Fashion Council said.

Models show the Jasper Conran 2009 spring/summer collection Photo : Shaun Curry/AFP

Officials from the fashion capitals of the world agreed that New York could stage its fashion week a little later as it wanted, shaving a day off London -- which follows NYC -- but guaranteeing the British capital a five-day slot.

Fashion chiefs hailed the agreement here, which takes London Fashion Week back to the length it was two years ago, before it was extended to six days.

London was concerned that New York's move -- to give designers more time to prepare their spring-summer collections -- could threaten its existence.

It feared that cutting back to four days could make it less attractive to big-name British designers such as Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood who might decide to go directly from New York to Milan, which comes after London.

"With five days now secured from September 2009, the British Fashion Council looks forward to developing a stronger and more impactful London Fashion Week," said BFC chairman Harold Tillman.

He said all the fashion capitals were "united by one aim and one global industry. We recognise and respect each other's cities' strengths and will continue to collaborate to protect and grow our industry".

Fashion Week attracts nearly 5,000 buyers, journalists and designers from across the world and injects 20 million pounds (25 million euros, 35 million dollars) into London's economy, according to the council.

The details of Tuesday's agreement were not released, as designers in each of the fashion capitals need to give their approval.