Bury actress Nikki Sanderson could be left £100,000 out of pocket after a claim for phone hacking damage was ‘made too late.’

The actress, who played Candice Stowe in Coronation Street between 1999 and 2005, unsuccessfully sued Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages last year.

She claims that journalists at its titles, The Daily and Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People – were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

Her case was one of four representative claims being heard in London, alongside similar claims brought by the Duke of Sussex, Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, and comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

Last month, a judge ruled that phone hacking became “widespread and habitual” at the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) titles in the late 90s and was practised “even to some extent” during the Leveson Inquiry into press standards in 2011.

Mr Justice Fancourt also concluded that Harry’s phone was hacked “to a modest extent” by MGN, awarding him £140,600 in damages.

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A follow-up hearing dealing with the consequences of the ruling began in London on Monday, where the High Court heard the group of people who sued the publisher are currently seeking payment of £1,976,660 from MGN towards the legal costs of bringing “generic” allegations to court.

David Sherborne, for the group, said: “We were the overall winners, clearly… we were overwhelmingly successful.”

Harry’s case was heard alongside similar claims brought by actor Michael Turner, who is known professionally as Michael Le Vell and is most famous for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street and Ms Sanderson.

Claims brought by Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman were dismissed by Mr Justice Fancourt because they were made too late, despite the judge finding that some of their complaints were proved.

Mr Sherborne is expected to ask for the green light from the judge to appeal against this decision.

Turner was awarded a total of £31,650 in damages after the judge ruled his phone hacking and unlawful information-gathering case was “proved only to a limited extent”.

In his written arguments, Mr Mallalieu said MGN would be seeking interim payments from Turner, Sanderson and Wightman of around £100,000 each.

“There are no good reasons why Ms Wightman, Ms Sanderson and Mr Turner should not make interim payments on account,” Mr Mallalieu said.

The four cases were considered as “representative” of the types of allegations facing MGN and Mr Justice Fancourt’s findings could affect the outcome of other pending claims, which include challenges brought by actor Ricky Tomlinson, the estate of the late singer George Michael and ex-footballer and television presenter Ian Wright.

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On Monday, Mr Sherborne said there were 100 ‘live’ claims against the publisher, however, MGN’s lawyers told the court that around 75% of these could be found to have been brought too late.

An MGN spokesperson said: “We welcomed December’s judgment that gave the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago.

“Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid compensation.”

Mr Justice Fancourt will give judgment on a later date.