The Sun's apparent decision to stop featuring pictures of topless women on Page Three has been welcomed by campaigners and MPs. It was described by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan as "long overdue".

But some models defended the right to appear topless in the newspaper, saying it would be "regressive" to end it. The Sun is yet to confirm or deny the move, which was reported in Tuesday's edition of The Times, but has not featured topless models since Friday.

Page Three of Monday's Sun featured model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in lingerie, while Hollyoaks actresses Jennifer Metcalfe and Gemma Merna were photographed in bikinis on a beach on Tuesday.

The Sun's head of public relations Dylan Sharpe has described reports that Page Three has been dropped as "wild speculation".

The Times, a fellow News UK title, said it understood Friday's edition of the Sun was the last that would carry images of topless women, although they would continue online. It said it understood that News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch had signed off the decision.