Andy Coulson sues Rupert Murdoch's News Group 'for breach of contract'

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is suing his former employers News Group Newspapers, reportedly for breach of contract.

Coulson - who resigned from his position as communications chief to prime minister David Cameron in January - is taking action because the company has stopped paying his legal fees.

News Group Newspapers is a subsidiary company of News International. It publishes The Sun and was the former publisher of the now-defunct News of the World.

Sky News's Mark Stone told viewers: "[The] news has been confirmed to us both by his lawyer, who I've spoken to in the last ten minutes or so, [and] I've also spoken to News International, who've confirmed the same thing.

"At the moment he is having to pay his own legal fees... he is suing his former employer for [what is] effectively breach of contract."

> Andy Coulson 'paid by News International while working for David Cameron'

Public relations consultant Max Clifford said: "Clearly Andy Coulson was counting on News International paying all his legal bills, and potentially his legal bills are going to amount to an awful lot of money.

"I suppose it remains to be seen how News International will react."

Bloomberg had earlier reported that an 'A Coulson' was listed in court documents filed yesterday as taking action against News Group at the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.

The Financial Times had claimed last month that Coulson's legal fees were being paid by News International.