Press regulator IPSO has appointed former senior civil servant Sir Joseph Pilling to conduct an external review of its independence and effectiveness.

The appointment comes as an alternative to being audited by the Press Recognition Panel, which was set up by the Government to decide if press regulators meet the criteria agreed by politicians in the Royal Charter on press regulation.

Pilling was appointed by the IPSO appointments panel which was chaired by former civil servant Wendy Harris. Sir Hayden Phillips was not involved in the appointment because he has previously wored with Pilling. The other members of the panel are: Sir Alan Moses, Mirror editor Lloyd Embley, former Archant chief executive Adrian Jeakings and accountant Jeremy Horner.