The Sun newspaper is to face legal action brought by the victims of phone hacking, after a High Court judge ruled the claims can go ahead.

It sees the paper brought into civil litigation over the hacking of people's private voicemail messages for the first time.

News Group Newspapers - now News UK - has already settled more than 1,000 claims relating to the practice, which resulted in the closure of the News of the World.

But executives have always denied any phone hacking took place at the now-defunct newspaper's sister tabloid, arguing that The Sun had an entirely separate newsroom with its own editorial practices.

Up to 50 new claims are soon to be issued in the case, many of which will include allegations of hacking at The Sun. One of the new claims has been brought by Simon Clegg, the former chief executive of the British Olympic Association.

Others now suing NGN include EastEnders actors Christopher Parker and Brooke Kinsella, Coronation Street actor Kym Marsh, designer Pearl Lowe and her musician husband Danny Goffey and Leslie Heseltine, who is better known as actor and comedian Les Dennis.