**The police are to investigate claims of widespread mobile phone hacking by the News of the World, following calls for an inquiry into the affair.**The Guardian says the paper’s reporters paid private investigators to hack into “thousands” of phones, including one owned by ex-deputy PM John Prescott.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has ordered a senior officer to “establish the facts” on the case.
Mr Prescott said “many many” questions needed to be answered on the claims.