Connery's phone was hacked, say police

3. Sir Sean Connery: Playing Bond may not always lead to National Treasuredom - ask George Lazenby - but it helps. Connery is ranked number three, making him Scotland's most treasured (Rex Features)

The Oscar-winning actor Sir Sean Connery has been told by police that they believe he was a "repeated victim" of phone hacking.

The Scottish screen veteran, most famous for playing the role of James Bond a total of seven times between 1962 and 1983, was informed by Scottish police that his phone was hacked about 10 times, it was reported yesterday.

Connery's name is understood to appear in the notes of Glenn Mulcaire, the private detective employed by the News of the World who was jailed for six months in 2007 for illegally accessing voicemails.

The 81-year-old is thought to have been targeted due to his close relationship with the Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond.

The actor is a friend and vocal supporter of Mr Salmond's and his campaign for Scottish independence.

Mr Salmond, who is due to appear at the Leveson Inquiry next month, has recently come under pressure to hold a similar inquiry in Scotland.

Critics of the First Minister have raised questions over his support for Rupert Murdoch's takeover of BSkyB, which came at roughly the same time as he and his Scottish National Party won backing from The Sun.

The claims, which were reported in The Guardian, would make Connery among the most high-profile victims of phone hacking yet.

Connery, who has now largely retired from acting, won an Oscar for his supporting role in The Untouchables.