News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks said: "The News of the World website will be the third of our titles to launch a paid-for digital proposition in under four months.

"News International is leading the industry by delivering on its commitment to develop new ways of making the business of news an economically exciting proposition."

Colin Myler, editor of the News of the World, said: "This is a very significant moment in the history of the News of the World. The paid site makes the most of our heritage, presenting our unique content with a real focus on exclusive video and pictures.

"Our new digital sites and apps will showcase our agenda-setting stories, celebrity exclusives and world-class investigative journalism, plus our unrivalled sports coverage, to give our audience unbeatable value. "

News International placed a paywall on The Times and Sunday Times websites in July this year, but this is the first time a tabloid newspaper's online presence will be behind a paywall.

News International owner Rupert Murdoch announced his plans to take all News International titles to a paid for format last year, despite maintaining since the early 1990s that the future of publishing was in free titles.