Herefordshire's Liz Hurley is among six celebrities suing the publisher of The Daily Mail over alleged unlawful information-gathering at its titles.

A statement released on Thursday by lawyers acting for the group, which includes The Duke of Sussex, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Elton John, said they are bringing claims for misuse of private information against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

Model and actress Ms Hurley has lived near Ledbury since 2012 and has had high-profile relationships with actor Hugh Grant and Australian cricketer Shane Warne.

Lawyers said the group, which also includes Sir Elton’s husband David Furnish and actress Sadie Frost, has “become aware of compelling and highly distressing evidence that they have been the victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy” by ANL – which is also the publisher of The Mail On Sunday and MailOnline.

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Filings at the High Court in London showed that claims were filed on behalf of Sir Elton and Mr Furnish, Baroness Lawrence and Ms Hurley, 57, on Thursday afternoon, but Associated Newspapers have denied the claims.

Baroness Lawrence, mother of Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racially-motivated attack in Eltham, south London in 1993, has also lodged a claim against Rupert Murdoch-owned News Group Newspapers, publisher of various titles including The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World.

The details of that claim are not known, but it is understood to also relate to misuse of private information.

Hereford Times: Hurley was dressed in a bright flowery dress accessorised with a purple fascinator and large sunglasses at the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2022. Picture: Matt Alexander/PA WireHurley was dressed in a bright flowery dress accessorised with a purple fascinator and large sunglasses at the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2022. Picture: Matt Alexander/PA Wire

A spokesman for Associated Newspapers said: “We utterly and unambiguously refute these preposterous smears which appear to be nothing more than a pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone hacking scandal concerning articles up to 30 years old.

“These unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims, based on no credible evidence, appear to be simply a fishing expedition by claimants and their lawyers, some of whom have already pursued cases elsewhere.”

The statement about the legal action against ANL, released by Hamlins law firm, claims that the unlawful acts which are alleged to have taken place include the hiring of private investigators to secretly place listening devices inside cars and homes and the recording of private phone conversations.

It also alleges that payments were made to police “with corrupt links to private investigators” for sensitive information, that medical information was “obtained by deception” and that bank accounts and financial information was accessed “through illicit means and manipulation”.

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The statement read: “It is apparent to these individuals that the alleged crimes listed above represent the tip of the iceberg – and that many other innocent people remain unknowing victims of similar terrible and reprehensible covert acts.

“They have now therefore banded together to uncover the truth, and to hold the journalists responsible fully accountable, many of whom still hold senior positions of authority and power today.

Hereford Times: Sir Elton John after being made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to Music and to Charity during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA WireSir Elton John after being made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to Music and to Charity during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire (Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

“These individuals have been the subject of public interest during the course of their careers and personal lives.

“They are united in their desire to live in a world where the press operates freely, yet responsibly. A press that represents truth, is sourced in fact and can be trusted to operate ethically and in the interests of the British public.”

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Hamlins is representing the duke and Ms Frost, while the other claimants are represented by law firm Gunnercooke.

While there have been a number of damages claims over unlawful activity at newspapers in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal – most of which have settled – this is the first claim to be brought against ANL.