Murdoch's Wapping site is up for sale

Rupert Murdoch is to sell his historic News International base at Wapping.

The media tycoon plans to dispose of the 15-acre site rather than redevelop it for his remaining newspapers.

In a statement, NI said all staff would move to the nearby Thomas More Square and added: "In light of current market conditions, News International has decided not to proceed with re-modelling the Wapping site."

The announcement ends an era in newspaper history. The site became known as Fortress Wapping after his successful battle to smash the print unions in 1986.

The news came as the News of the World hacking scandal continued with more arrests and senior executives due to give fresh evidence to a Commons inquiry tomorrow.

Mr Murdoch's decision to sell Wapping may be seen as an attempt to start to draw a line under the affair, which has rocked his media empire.

Thousands of demonstrators took part in violent protests outside the site in east London, in a bid to resist Mr Murdoch's attempts to modernise working practices as he moved his papers from Fleet Street. The media baron, now 80, had summarily dismissed thousands of staff.