The National Union of Journalists has condemned the Sun and News of the World publisher News International for banning the use of paparazzi photographs of Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton – while still printing images of her taken by agencies and staff photographers.

The union said today that the move amounted to a "ban on freelance photographers".

NUJ freelance organiser John Toner said: "Surely what is important here is that photographers behave ethically, rather than the source of the pictures? Who is to say that staff photographers in pursuit of celebrities and royals are not paparazzi?