The Solicitors Regulation Authority has today launched a formal investigation into the role played by solicitors in events surrounding the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.

The SRA's chief executive Antony Townsend said the decision followed a preliminary review of the material in the public domain.

He said the first step was to obtain the evidence necessary to ensure a thorough investigation, using its powers under the Solicitors Act 1974.

‘Further decisions will depend upon the review of that evidence and any further inquiries we need to make.

‘We will pursue our investigation vigorously and thoroughly, but emphasise that our inquiries are at an early stage, and that no conclusions have been reached about whether there may have been any impropriety by any solicitor.’

He added: ‘The initial stages of SRA investigations are confidential, but any formal regulatory action arising from them would become a matter of public record.’

Meanwhile the Law Society has expressed grave concern after claims by solicitors that their phones may have been hacked by the News of the World, perhaps in attempts to undermine legal claims against the newspaper.

Chancery Lane said it had been contacted by members of the profession who have been notified by police that their phones may have been hacked.

The Society’s chief executive Desmond Hudson said he would be writing to Lord Justice Leveson, tasked with carrying out the public inquiry in to the scandal, to ask him to investigate the allegations.

Hudson said: ‘Hacking into solicitors’ phones would be very serious indeed, and we urge the police to carry out a full investigation.’

He said that if hacking was carried out with the intention of undermining court action, it might constitute an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

‘In any event, it is a shocking breach of the privacy of both solicitors and their clients,’ he said.

Hudson added: ‘The extent of the phone hacking scandal has already shown a blatant disregard for the privacy of individuals, and the Law Society urges the police to investigate these claims with the utmost vigour.’