UPDATE –

The Sun on Sunday has arrived. Next weekend will see the birth of the first ever Sunday edition of the Sun newspaper 26th February

Rupert Murdoch has told News International employees that he intends to launch the Sun on Sunday “very soon”, according to Sky News.

The broadcaster has seen an email sent to staff in London that sets out plans to replace the News of the World which was axed in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.

The announcement was made as the media mogul prepared to meet staff at The Sun newspaper in at its Wapping HQ following a series of arrests at the tabloid.

Five Sun journalists – including the deputy editor, picture editor and chief reporter – were held for questioning by Scotland Yard officers on Saturday on suspicion of making improper payments to police and other public officials. They have all been bailed.

This morning he left his Mayfair home and made his way to The Sun’s offices amid anger at the paper over News Corporation’s decision to hand over information that led to the arrests.

It is understood the media mogul, who has vowed not to sell or close the paper, will offer further reassurance to employees when he speaks to them today.

There is anger at the paper that News Corporation’s Management Standards Committee (MSC) – formed to clean up the company following the phone hacking scandal – gave police the information that led to the arrests.

Tom Mockridge, chief executive of News International, the UK newspapers division of News Corp, told staff at the weekend that Mr Murdoch had personally told him of his “total commitment to continue to own and publish” The Sun.