The chairman of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has explained why he recommended for the press watchdog to close, in order for press regulation to "start again" with a regulator that has "teeth".

Speaking to the Today programme's Sarah Montague, Lord Hunt said the problem was that the PCC was being criticised for "not exercising powers it never had in the first place".

"We need to do something which will restore public trust and confidence in the press" he said, outlining his proposal to bind the press through "a system of commercial contracts".

Lord Hunt explained that he did not believe a statute was needed and insisted that he was a great believer in self-regulation.

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