Mrs Brooks, who is said to have been in tears as she announced the paper’s closure, was faced with a “lynch mob mentality” from staff. David Wooding, the associate editor, said: “The problem is, all these decent hard-working distinguished journalists are carrying the can for the sins of the previous regime. I don’t think they could have done any more to cleanse the News of the World.” Mrs Brooks was the editor of the News of the World when some of the most controversial incidents — including the hacking of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s phone — took place. It was reported last night that she offered her resignation on Wednesday evening but it was rejected by the Murdoch family. Mr Murdoch last night staunchly defended Mrs Brooks, insisting that she was not culpable for the hacking allegations.