However, it is fighting ever-increasing speculation over the future of News of the World employees and even a potential sale of the business.

According to News International it sold 3.8m copies on Sunday, up 1.1m from the previous week.

It has launched a special edition of the publication, available via mail order from News International, which also includes a copy of the very first edition from 1 October 1843.

It has also revealed the charities that will benefit from the increased sales. For every newspaper sold 74p has been donated to charity, including Barnado’s, The Force’s Children’s Trust and the military projects at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity.

Meanwhile, News of the World journalists have begun hitting out at the publisher after they were placed on gardening leave. Employees are complaining that they are unclear on their status.

Speculation has also crept out that Rupert Murdoch, who has been a newspaper publisher since taking over Australian company News Limited at the age of 22, may be ready to ditch the printing arm to save his broadcast empire.