Burrell will not face perjury charge

(ANDY RAIN/EPA)

Paul Burrell will not be formally investigated for perjury following claims he did not tell the "whole truth" to the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Scotland Yard said today.

The former royal butler had come under a preliminary police inquiry after a newspaper reported he had admitted telling "red herrings" to the hearing which ended last month.

But today the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said in statement there was insufficient admissible evidence to prove that an act of perjury had been committed.

The statement said: "The MPS has reviewed the available evidence in relation to the perjury allegations made against Paul Burrell and sought the view of both the Crown Prosecution Service and (inquest coroner) Lord Justice Scott Baker.

"As a result we have reached the decision that there is insufficient admissible evidence to prove that an offence of perjury has occurred and therefore do not believe it to be appropriate to instigate a police investigation."