Four Sun journalists accused of corrupting public officials face a retrial after a jury failed to reach verdicts following a three-month hearing.

Head of news Chris Pharo, ex-deputy news editor Ben O'Driscoll, reporter Jamie Pyatt and former managing editor Graham Dudman had been accused – along with two colleagues – of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.

The defendants shook their heads as the foreman confirmed the 11 members of the jury had failed to reach verdicts despite 49 hours of deliberating at Kingston Crown Court.