The chief reporter of The News of the World has been reported to be arrested on the charge of phone hacking last day as the probe undertaken by the Scotland Yard over the allegations of unlawful news gathering has been stepped up.

Neville Thurlbeck 50 was apprehended following his voluntarily attending a police station in London for enquiring on allegations, which he was involved in the illegal interception of voicemail messages in mobile phones.

Also arrested was a former assistant editor of the Sunday, Ian Edmondson 42, when he was attending a different police station in London. The arrested journalist duo has been asked to return in September after being released on the police bail.

The Operation Weeting sleuths have been reported to have searched the residences of the two journalist under investigation both of whom repudiate any wrong doing. The Operation Weeting is the refers to the Metropolitan Police Probe into hacking of the phones.

The recent detentions points to the first in a fresh probe launched by the Scotland Yard following its receiving wide spread criticism over its handling of the previous investigation.