POLICE are investigating whether a Warrington politician had his phone hacked by The News of the World.

Nick Bent, Labour spokesman for Warrington South, believes his phone may have been targeted between 2003 and 2007.

During that period he was a special advisor to Tessa Jowell the then minister for culture, media and sport.

Mr Bent says that her phone was hacked on 28 occasions by the Sunday tabloid, which was closed after public pressure over the scandal.

He was then warned by police his phone may also have been compromised. They are now investigating.

“The Met warned us all that we may have been hacked as well,” said Mr Bent.

“I was advised to put a pin number on my phone.

“Police say they are still sifting through masses of evidence and will keep me informed.”

Mr Bent also says that he wrote to former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, who grew up in Daresbury, in January to ask whether his phone was hacked.

He is still waiting for a reply.

“If I was a victim I want an apology,” he added.

Ms Brooks appeared in front of MPs on Tuesday and denied any knowledge of hacking or payments to police.

The former Appleton Hall Grammar School pupil called the practice ‘abhorrent’ and said that News International acted ‘decisively’ when presented with evidence.

“The idea that Milly Dowler’s phone was accessed by someone being paid by the News of the World, or even worse authorised by someone at the News of the World, is as abhorrent to me as it is to everyone in this room,” she said.

Ms Brooks also told the Commons Committee on Culture, Media and Sport that she had not met private investigator Glen Mulcaire. He was jailed for phone hacking in 2007.

Her solicitor attended proceedings following her arrest on Sunday. She was released on bail following allegations of corruption.