EastEnders actor Steve McFadden today settled a damages claim against News Group Newspapers and the Metropolitan Police issued in the wake of the phone hacking revelations.

Tamsin Allen, representing McFadden, told a High Court judge in London that a police officer had sold private information about the actor to a News Of The World journalist in 2010.

Ms Allen also said former NotW reporter Dan Evans had admitted attempting to intercept McFadden's voicemail messages.

The lawyer told Mr Justice Mann that News Group Newspapers, now known as News UK, and the Metropolitan Police had agreed to pay substantial damages to McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell in the BBC1 soap opera.

Interior designer Kelly Hoppen and model Keeley Hazell had also accepted damages from News Group, Mr Justice Mann was told today.

The women had complained that messages were intercepted or targeted, lawyers said.