Sir Paul McCartney 'targeted by phone hackers

Earlier this week it emerged Mr Wallis, who was quizzed by police investigating phone hacking allegations and later released on bail, had worked for the Met as a media consultant.

Sky News has now learnt Sir Paul spent time at a health farm where Mr Wallis was working as a PR consultant.

Sir Paul had an operation on his leg before Christmas to remove a pre-cancerous tumour.

He needed a second procedure just after Christmas to repair a fracture to a bone in that leg.

He then spent some time recuperating at a Champneys health resort.

The operation was funded by the Met's healthcare scheme but the accommodation was free as it was paid for by a friend of Sir Paul's, who was the managing director at the farm, Sky sources say.

And it is understood that Mr Wallis was working as a consultant for the resort.

Sky's Tom Parmenter said: "There is no suggestion at this stage that there is any overt wrongdoing between Sir Paul Stephenson staying at this health farm and their PR person being Neil Wallis.

Asked whether stories that appeared in the News of the World might have been as a result of phone hacking, Mr Edwards said stories of the divorce were being published so frequently, he and his team “never had time to think where they were coming from”.

He added: “In retrospect, you have to think it might have been.”

Mr Edwards has been told to expect a telephone call from police informing him he is one of almost 4,000 possible victims of hacking by Mulcaire. So far, fewer than 200 people have been contacted by police and told their names appear in Muclaire’s notebooks.

Mr Edwards refused to discuss the appointment of Mr Wallis, who is listed on Outside’s website as a freelance media consultant in place since 2009.

Miss Mills is also said to be considering suing the News of the World for breach of privacy over alleged phone hacking. It is understood that her name and mobile phone number are also listed in Mulcaire’s notes along with those of her friends and associates. Her sister Fiona, who is her confidante and adviser, is also considering suing News International over alleged hacking.

The couple’s divorce took almost as long as the marriage and was bitterly fought in the High Court. Much of the behind-the-scenes rows were played out in public, including divorce papers leaked to newspapers.

It is not clear what stories might have been obtained as a result of hacking.