Clive Goodman, former royal editor of the News of the World, is still too unwell to continue giving evidence at the phone hacking trial, the jury was told today.

Mr Goodman, who has recently had a heart operation, denies making payments to police officers to obtain copies of three royal phone directories found at his home seven years ago.

Andy Coulson, his former editor, also faces those two charges of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office, as well as a separate count of conspiring to hack phones.

Mr Goodman was taken ill at the Old Bailey two weeks ago on 21 March, minutes before he was due to be cross-examined for a second day by Mr Coulson's barrister, Timothy Langdale QC.

He was taken by ambulance to St Thomas' hospital for a check-up and his medical situation has been monitored since.

In his absence, Rebekah Brooks's husband Charlie, her PA Cheryl Carter and News International's security chief Mark Hanna have taken the witness stand to deny a charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice over an alleged plot to hide evidence from detectives investigating hacking.

Mr Coulson, editor of the News of the World between 2003 and 2007, and Stuart Kuttner, the paper's long-standing managing editor, have yet to give evidence in the five month-long case.

Today, Judge John Saunders updated the jury on the progress of the trial, telling them: "The current situation is that Mr Goodman is still not well enough to continue."

After the jury were sent home early for the day, the court heard legal argument.

All seven defendants deny the charges against them. The trial, which began in October, is due to continue on Monday.