News of the World journalist 'was asked to tap phones'

A former reporter on the News of the World has told the BBC that he was personally asked by then-editor Andy Coulson to tap into phones.

In an interview with the PM programme Sean Hoare said Mr Coulson's insistence that he didn't know about the practice was "a lie, it is simply a lie."

Sean Hoare used to work on the Sun and the News of the World with Andy Coulson before being dismissed for drink and drug problems.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Andy Coulson totally and utterly denied the allegation. He has said that he "never condoned the use of phone-hacking and nor do I have any recollection of incidences where phone-hacking took place".