The BBC understands they were picture editor John Edwards, chief reporter John Kay, chief foreign correspondent Nick Parker, reporter John Sturgis and associate editor Geoff Webster.

BBC: The Sun's Trevor Kavanagh attacks journalists' arrests

Present-day journalists on the list include the Sun's political editor Trevor Kavanagh and the paper's chief reporter, John Kay, and Sir Larry Lamb, the editor who pioneered the Sun's populist style and introduced page three girls.

BBC: NEWS | UK | 'Top 40' UK journalists honoured

Flint moved to New York in 1973, working as The New York Times' chief labor reporter, assistant to the national editor and assistant to the financial editor.

FORBES: Backseat Driver

The News of the World's chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, 50, and former news editor Ian Edmondson, 42, were arrested last month on suspicion of having unlawfully intercepted voicemail messages.

BBC: Sienna Miller awarded ?100,000 over phone hacking

The other former NoW staff who have been formally charged are ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.

BBC: Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks formally charged