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Britain's most senior policeman ordered an inquiry today into claims that private investigators allegedly working for News of the Worldreporters intercepted mobile phone messages from the phones of hundreds of celebrities and politicians.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson said he had appointed a senior officer, Assistant Commissioner John Yates, to look into the allegations against the News of the World, which is owned by News International Ltd, a subsidiary of Murdoch's News Corp.

"We will investigate thoroughly and follow the case to where it leads us," Mr Stephenson told Sky News.

The move comes after former Labour Party deputy prime minister John Prescott said he would contact police over the claims