News Of The World’s ‘Thank You and Goodbye’

After 168 years, the tabloid newspaper with an estimated readership of 7.5 million, issued its last edition today. Emotional staff left the News Of The World last night, Editor Colin Myler led employees from the building to rapturous applause holding a copy of the last ever front page.

The headline read simply: “Thank You and Goodbye.” Inside the paper, an apology to readers admitted: "Quite simply we lost our way.”

Many of the staff - some wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the paper's logo - wept or held their heads in their hands.

“It's actually the 8674th edition after 168 proud years,” he said. “It is not a record of any editor to want to close a title - of course I didn't close it.

“I want to pay tribute to this wonderful team of people here who after a really difficult day have produced a brilliantly professional newspaper.”

To massive cheers, he added: "As I said to the staff this morning, this is not where we wanted to be or where we deserve to be.

“But as a final tribute to 7.5 million readers, this is for you and for the staff. Thank you.”

Meanwhile, News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch is expected to arrive in London today to take charge of the phone hacking crisis that led to the closure of the paper.

As the paper went to press for the final time, Rupert Murdoch continued to give his full backing to embattled News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, insisting she had his 'total' support.

Ms Brooks, a former editor of the paper, has remained defiant as the scandal engulfing the tabloid gathered pace in recent weeks.

Resisting calls for her resignation, she has told British MPs she had 'no knowledge whatsoever' of claims that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler was among up to 4,000 people who might have fallen victim to hacking.

And she insisted there was 'no reason to believe' that hacking had been used by any other News International titles.