A former police officer living in Sussex is on trial accused of selling information to journalists working for The Sun.

Ex-Surrey Police officer Simon Quinn, of Littlehampton, is accused of selling information to the Sun about Mick Hucknall, Chris Tarrant and Dane Bowers as well as details of the Milly Dowler murder hunt and the M25 rapist Tony Imiela case.

The 37-year-old, who denies the charge, is charged with committing misconduct in a public office by selling information about celebrities as well as high profile criminal investigations between 2000 and 2011.

He is appearing in court today on the first day of the latest Operation Elveden trial which also includes six journalists and senior newspaper executives from the tabloid accused of plotting with public officials in pursuit of exclusive stories at the Sun newspaper over nine years.

The group are jointly charged with conspiring to commit misconduct with police officers, members of the Armed Forces, prison officials and staff at Broadmoor Hospital between March 2002 and January 2011.

On a charge sheet containing nine separate counts, news editor Chris Pharo faces a total of six charges of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office while ex-managing editor Graham Dudman and ex-Sun deputy news editor Ben O'Driscoll are accused of four.

Reporter Jamie Pyatt, and picture editor John Edwards face three counts each and ex-Sun reporter John Troup is accused of two counts.

A jury was sworn in today before prosecutor Peter Wright QC opens the case tomorrow at Kingston Crown Court.

The trial being heard by judge Richard Marks QC and could go on until Christmas.