Police in Bristol have released a statement following allegations made in the Leveson inquiry that information was leaked to the media in the days after Christopher Jefferies' wrongful arrest for the murder of Joanna Yeates.

The statement reads: Over the course of the last two weeks there has been coverage in the media sparked by the evidence given by Richard Wallace, editor of the Mirror, to the Leveson Inquiry about alleged police leaks from the Joanna Yeates enquiry. 

In the last week this has led to a letter from Mr Jefferies' solicitors, to which Avon and Somerset Chief Constable, Colin Port, has given the following public response:

"I am aware of the allegations made by the solicitor who has clearly attempted to seize the moment apparently provided by Mr Wallace's presentation at the Leveson Inquiry last week. 

"We have conducted a thorough investigation into all of Mr Wallace's assertions. We have not found any substance to the suggestion of 'off-the-record background briefings' by Avon and Somerset Police relating to Mr Jefferies. Ryan Parry, the senior Mirror reporter, confirmed in his evidence to the Inquiry yesterday that he had not had any 'off the record briefings' about Mr Jefferies. 

"I am extremely concerned that the solicitor should be so intemperate and inaccurate in his comments made public. Surely one of the lessons that has been learnt from his client's experience is to treat media commentary with caution."