The Metropolitan Police has defended its handling of phone-hacking allegations against the News of the World.

Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was going in to the Home Office to review documents from the case and believed his Conservative successor Theresa May may have to consider calling in the Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Controversy surrounding alleged phone-hacking by journalists on the News of the World was revived by a report in the New York Times claiming that it was more widespread than previously admitted and that then editor Andy Coulson was aware of it - something he has strenuously denied.

A former News of the World reporter told the US newspaper that he believed Mr Coulson was aware his staff were hacking into the voicemail of prominent personalities.

Tories accused Labour of latching on to the report in the hope of embarrassing Prime Minister David Cameron, who employs Mr Coulson as his head of communications at 10 Downing Street.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The clear view, subsequently endorsed by the Director of Public Prosecutions with leading counsel's advice, was that there was no new evidence and consequently the investigation remains closed."