The 24-year-old from Sheffield, who last month came close to breaking the UK heptathlon record when winning the European gold medal in Barcelona, adding it to the world title she lifted in Berlin in 2009, made the decision alongside her coach Toni Minichiello to ensure the long term plan including reaching 2012 in best possible shape was always the main priority.

Ennis said: "I have had an amazing season and to win the European Championships was just incredible, it was such a close competition but there was no way I was not going to win.

"I had planned to run in the Aviva London Grand Prix [on August 14 and 15] and possibly the Brussels Diamond League [on August 27], but on serious reflection Toni and I have decided that rest is key to my recovery both from the Championships and the illness I had before I went. 

"We have to look at the next two years run into London and keeping me fit and healthy  and improving those areas of my performance that I can - and this is absolutely the right decision for me now."

Ennis had announced as long ago as last December that she planned to miss the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October because she feared it would impact on her preparations for the 2011 season and London 2012.

Barcelona completed a good year for Ennis who, in March had won the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships in Doha.

It has led to bookmakers in Britain quoting her at 5/4 to win the gold medal at London in 2012, making her the shortest-priced of all Britain's hopes behind only sailor Ben Ainslie, who will be chasing a record fourth consecutive Olympic title.

Minichiello, who, as well as being Ennis' personal coach, is UK Athletics' National Event Coach for Combined Events, admitted that London 2012 had played a big part in the decision.

He said: "We have always made decisions based on what is best for Jess and also how best to improve her performance going forward - particularly with London 2012 on the horizon.  

"I have chatted to the wider team who work with Jess and we all feel a full de-brief and analysis of the season, and for her to recover fully is more important than chasing races.

"She will then come back to full training in October with our focus on making all the necessary advances for the 2011 season  to endeavour to keep her  ahead of the rest of her competition.

"We must never lose sight of the ethos of how we have always worked and calling it time on this season is the right thing for us to do."

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