The High Court has agreed to a request from Lady Archer to extend an injunction against her former secretary.

Jane Williams looked after Lady Archer's personal affairs, including relations with the press, for 13 years, before leaving last year.

But on 8 March the wife of jailed peer Jeffrey Archer applied to the court by telephone for the injunction, which was given.

Miss Williams' counsel, Andrew Monson, told Mr Justice Stanley Burnton in London that new evidence had been served on behalf of Lady Archer hours before this week's hearing.

Confidential

The injunction orders that Miss Williams will not disclose or cause or permit to be disclosed to any third parties, either directly or indirectly, any confidential information relating to or touching upon or concerning Lady Archer or any member of her family.

Confidential information was defined as including any information which Miss Williams had learnt or which had come into her possession, custody or control as a result of her employment.

It also covered any information Miss Williams had been told was confidential by Lady Archer or which related to or belonged to or touched upon Lady Archer's "private, business or professional life".

Lawyers for Miss Williams agreed to the injunction's continuation and the adjournment until a further half-day hearing - which may take place next week.

When in their employment, Miss Williams worked from the couple's home in Grantchester, Cambridge.