The parliamentary battle over the Identity Cards Bill has ended with a compromise agreement.

Peers on Wednesday voted by 287 to 60 to accept an amendment which would mean that anyone applying for a passport before January 2010 can opt out of having an ID card.

They would, however, still have their details recorded on the national identity database.

Home Office Minister Andy Burnham said the decision "preserves the integrity of the national identity register by ensuring that everyone who applies for or renews a passport or other designated document has their biometric information and other identity details placed on the register".

"However, it also goes towards meeting the concerns of those who have argued that the card itself should not be compulsory at this stage by allowing those who apply for or renew their passport before 1 January 2010 to 'opt-out' of being issued the ID card itself, even though their identity details will be entered onto the register."

Earlier, MPs had voted for the fourth time to restore the link between passports and identity cards from 2008.

But Charles Clarke had suggested there was a "small" chance that compromise could be reached.

The home secretary had also warned peers that the parliamentary 'ping pong' should end, with the position of MPs prevailing.

"It is time for the elected house to have its will and for unelected peers not to deal with the situation in the way that they are seeking to do," he said.

The home secretary had said he had "no intention of accepting any changes that would have such an effect as 'blowing a hole in the bill'... or would damage the delivery of the identity cards scheme".

And he warned the Lords that "there has to come a time when the unelected house has to bow to the will of this house".