Downing Street has dropped its complaint over press reports that officials tried to seek a more prominent role for the prime minister at the lying-in-state of the Queen Mother.

The journalist concerned, Peter Oborne, told the BBC the move showed that Downing Street was "accepting our story as 100% true".

However the prime minister's official spokesman said they were "very happy" that it had been accepted that there had been no attempt to enhance the prime minister's role.

Acting chairman of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) Professor Robert Pinker said: "As with all complaints, the PCC has sought amicably to resolve the matter."

Unusual step

He added: "Following the submissions from the newspapers concerned, while it is agreed there was contact between Number 10 civil servants and Black Rod's office to discuss what was expected of the prime minister in the proceedings, all of the papers make clear that they accept that the prime minister was not involved in any of these contacts.

"Following an approach by the PCC, Downing Street has now indicated that it considers the matter resolved on this basis and the file has therefore been closed."

At the time of the reports the prime minister was said to be furious about articles claiming his officials asked for arrangements to be changed to increase his prominence at the funeral.

Mr Blair took the unusual step of lodging a complaint with the PCC over the articles, which appeared in the Spectator magazine, the Mail on Sunday and the London Evening Standard.

All three publications reacted by insisting the story was true.

'Deeply offensive'

Following the news of the complaint's withdrawal, Mr Blair's spokesman said: "We are very happy this has been resolved and we agreed with the PCC that this was the best way to resolve it."

Mr Oborne, speaking on BBC News 24, said the dropping of the complaint showed that the stories had been correct.

He pointed out that he had never alleged the prime minister had intervened - rather that officials had on his behalf.

At the time the complaint was made Downing Street said Mr Blair had "many things" written about him that were untrue "but the idea that he would try to exploit the death of the Queen Mother is totally without foundation and deeply offensive".

"Whatever sources they may claim to have, they cannot escape the fact that the story is untrue and the prime minister is determined they should correct it and apologise."