The Daily Mirror did not breach the privacy of Liz Hurley's ex-lover Steve Bing when it invited readers to call his office number, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has ruled.

The Hollywood producer complained when the newspaper said that he dismissed claims he was the father of Ms Hurley's child, and urged its readers to ring if "you think he is a bigger cad than James Hewitt".

The UK tabloid said it had launched a Hunt for Bing campaign - dubbing him Bing Laden - for "crimes against Hurley".

Although the PCC accepted the story might have resulted in annoying calls, it said the number was in telephone directories and therefore widely available to the public.

'Annoyed'

The Mirror claimed Mr Bing "cruelly turned his back" on the English actress after he disputed her claim that he was the father of her unborn child.

The receptionists might have felt annoyed... but this was not a matter that was relevant

Press Complaints Commission

Solicitors for Mr Bing said publishing the switchboard number of his Los Angeles film company was an intrusion into his privacy.

But The Mirror's editor Piers Morgan successfully argued that publishing the office number could not be an offence because it was already available.

In its ruling, the commission "regretted any distress" caused to Mr Bing, but said under the terms of its Code of Conduct no breach had occurred.

The PCC added: "The commission appreciated that the receptionists might have felt annoyed or even possibly intimidated by the calls but this was not a matter that was relevant to Mr Bing's own privacy.

"In fact, the behaviour of individual Mirror readers is not in any case a matter that falls for consideration under the Code."

Upbringing

Last week Ms Hurley said she was "extremely distressed" after learning Mr Bing had begun court proceedings to establish whether he was the father of Damian, who was born in April.

She said she found her former boyfriend's High Court action "astonishing".

Mr Bing's spokeswoman said that if it is proved he is the father of her son Damian, he will want to support him and be involved in his upbringing.