Yui Mok/PA News of the World final

The final edition of the News of the World

Credit: Yui_Mok/PA

The final issue of the News of the World sold a total of 3.8 million copies, according to News International, short of the rumoured 4.5 million sales.

News International closed the News of the World at the weekend, at the end of a week which had seen a series of shocking allegations made against the paper in relation to both phone hacking and payments to police.

According to the figures released by the company the sales represented a 1.1 million increase on the previous week.

Announcing its closure the company's chairman James Murdoch had already said the final edition would dedicate advertising space to good causes and that its revenues from the weekend would also go to charities.

According to today's statement 74 pence from the £1 cover price will be split equally between three charities.

The final edition included a 48-page souvenir pull-out illustrating some of the paper's biggest scoops over the years.

It can still be bought online, along with a copy of the paper's very first edition from 1 October 1843, for £2.95, which includes £1.95 postage and packaging.

The remaining £1 cover price will be donated to charity, the company said.

According to the National Union of Journalists all 200 staff at the tabloid face losing their jobs following the closure, although chief executive Rebekah Brooks reportedly told staff in meetings she would try and find them jobs elsewhere in the company.

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