Rebekah Brooks holds on to her NI chauffeur-driven limousine

The extent to which Rebekah Brooks has cut ties with News International was questioned yesterday as it emerged that she has kept her chauffeur-driven car paid for by the company.

The former chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's British newspapers, who resigned last month shortly before she was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to hack voicemails and make corrupt payments to police, is thought to have been told she can keep the perk for two years.

Ms Brooks, 43, who has strongly denied wrongdoing and branded as "unthinkable" the actions of journalists alleged to have committed phone hacking, has resigned from 23 directorships linked to her News International role as she disentangles herself from the company where she spent 22 years.

Suggestions the ex-News of the World editor remains on the NI payroll are thought to be incorrect. But it is believed she has kept her car and driver as part of a confidential severance package.

The insistence of Mr Murdoch's empire that it has parted company with Ms Brooks has not stopped the circulation of rumours that she has been promised a new senior role when the phone-hacking scandal is resolved and that the media mogul has told her to "travel the world" in the meantime.

A spokesman for Ms Brooks said: "We are unable to comment on the contractual arrangements for the conclusion of Rebekah's employment."

News International said that it could not make any comment on the matter.