THE British-built Vauxhall Astra has been named as European Car of the Year for 2016.

The announcement was made in Geneva on the eve of the 86th annual Swiss motor show.

A jury of 58 leading motoring writers from across Europe picked the Astra from a short-list of seven which included the another British-made model, the Jaguar XE as well as the Volvo XC90 and the Mazda MX-5.

The award was presented to Vauxhall/Opel chief executive Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann by Car of the Year president Hakan Matson.

"We're delighted the Astra has been recognised for yet another award," said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall's chairman and managing director.

"To be named European Car of the Year by judges throughout Europe is a testament to the hard work that has gone into the Astra. This is the new model's first full year of sales, and it has already been well-received."

The Astra received a total of 309 points versus 294 for the Volvo XC90 and 202 for the Mazda MX-5.

This year is the 52nd European Car of the Year awards and the Astra's win marks the fifth Car of the Year title for Opel/Vauxhall.

The previous winners were the Astra Mk2, the Omega A, the Insignia and the Ampera range extender petrol-electric car.

The current Astra is built at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire from where the car was launched last year. The Astra line-up is about to be expanded with the introduction of estate models,