Clifford accepts £1m payout from tabloid

The PR agent Max Clifford has accepted a £1m settlement in return for dropping his legal action against the News of the World amid claims his voicemail messages were hacked into, it has been reported.

The paper, which has denied being involved in illegal activity, has previously agreed settlements with Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballer's Association, and two others who claimed their messages had been intercepted.