The Sun editor, from Fenland, gives evidence at Leveson Inquiry

Mr Mohan, who grew up in Fenland and also attended Cromwell Community College, in Chatteris, followed former editor Kelvin MacKenzie in appearing at the inquiry today.

Lord Justice Leveson has been chairing the inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the media - especially with regard to the phone hacking scandal - since November.

Moments ago, Mr Mohan told the inquiry that the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) had given his staff workshops a number of times and there was constant communication between the newspaper and the PCC.

He revealed that, following events at the News of the World, The Sun had implemented a new system for paying sources, which required four signatures from managers.

He also said the newspaper was considering appointing an independent ombudsman to deal with complaints from readers.

Asked about Rupert Murdoch, Mr Mohan stated that the media mogul had never tried to interfere with editorial content. He said that the last time he spoke to Mr Murdoch, he had been very interested in the race row involving England and Chelsea footballer John Terry.

Mr Mohan said he had not used private detectives in his time at The Sun but he had used, what he described as, “search agents”.

He told the inquiry that the biggest-selling story of the last 18 months was not about a celebrity but about the killer of James Bulger.

Mr Mohan has edited Britain’s most popular newspaper for more than two years after joining the newspaper in 1996. He began his career in the media in 1990 at the press agency in London. His parents still live in Chatteris.

Upon opening the inquiry in November, Lord Justice Leveson said: “The press provides an essential check on all aspects of public life. That is why any failure within the media affects all of us.

“At the heart of this Inquiry, therefore, may be one simple question: who guards the guardians?”