Actor Grant wins privacy damages

Hugh Grant, Liz Hurley and her husband Arun Nayar have accepted £58,000 damages for invasion of privacy over photographs taken of them on holiday.

The photographs were taken at a private resort in the Maldives.

The three claimants were not at the High Court in London to hear the settlement against Big Pictures (UK) Ltd and Eliot Press SARL.

The agencies have also apologised unequivocally and agreed to pay some of the group's legal costs.

Contributions towards the damages will also be made by Associated Newspapers and News Group Newspapers.

Laura Tyler, solicitor for Mr Grant, Ms Hurley and Mr Nayar, told Mr Justice Eady at the High Court that the photos were taken covertly without the claimants' knowledge.

Celebrity snaps

The three were on holiday in a resort which they had chosen for the complete privacy and seclusion it offered, she added.

"It has been most upsetting for the claimants to have their privacy invaded by these defendants," she said.

The photos were offered to a number of other newspapers and celebrity magazines in October 2007.

Ms Tyler said that News Group published three of the photos in the 3G section of the News of the World in an article headed "Liz does the blokey-cokey", and on their website.

Associated published four photos in The Mail on Sunday in an article headed "Hugh's that gooseberry?", and also online.

Matthew Nicklin, counsel for the agencies, said that they offered their apologies for any distress which they may have caused.