WWW- Actress Teri Hatcher has accepted “very substantial” libel damages after allegations that she had regular sex with a series of men in a van.

The star’s solicitor-advocate, Simon Smith, told a High Court judge in London that an article was published in the Daily Sport newspaper headlined “Teri’s Passion Wagon”.

It alleged that Ms Hatcher “takes lovers for steamy bangs in a battered old banger” and that she has “turned a hippie-style VW van parked in her driveway into a shagging wagon”.

Mr Smith told the judge: “The grossly defamatory allegations are entirely false, deeply offensive and utterly without foundation.”

In the light of the Daily Sport’s publications and the fact that “such serious allegations were repeated extensively here and abroad”, Ms Hatcher felt it necessary to issue a claim for libel against the defendant, publisher Sport Newspapers Limited.

David Hirst, counsel for the defendant, told the judge that through him it: “Sincerely apologises for the distress and embarrassment caused by the defamatory articles, which it fully accepts were entirely false.

“The defendant received the story from a source who it trusted, who in turn read the allegation elsewhere.”

The damages figure was not disclosed in court.

A statement issued on behalf of the actress, who was not in court, said: “When a story appeared about me, insinuating that I am an irresponsible and neglectful parent, I had to draw the line.

“I will never allow any tabloid to so egregiously attack the area of my life which I give top priority, and that is my parenting.”