The first direct flight from China to Birmingham has landed at the city's airport following the opening of a new £40 million runway extension.

It marked the beginning of the only direct link between the UK and China outside London. 

The flight was welcomed by Lord Popat of Harrow, Government Aviation spokesperson in the House of Lords, as well as local dignitaries.

Three more return flights are planned between the Chinese capital and the West Midlands city between now and August 6th. 

According to an airport spokesman, all the inbound flights to the city were sold out, with just a "handful of seats" left on the outbound routes.

"Never before has a commercial airliner touched down on a runway outside of the capital from China and we are enormously proud to be the first to make this happen," said Paul Kehoe, the Airport's chief executive.

Birmingham now the fourth most popular destination for Chinese visitors in England, and in 2012 the Chinese visitor market was worth £62 million to the West Midlands economy.