A former chief constable of Norfolk police quizzed over the phone hacking scandal.

A former chief constable of Norfolk police has been quizzed over the phone hacking scandal.

Andy Hayman, who headed up Norfolk Constabulary between 2002 and 2005, appeared before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to answer questions about the original 2006 police investigation into phone hacking.

The former Scotland Yard assistant commissioner clashed with MPs when they tried to ask him if he had ever accepted payments from news organisations.

Mr Hayman initially reacted with mock horror when the question was put to him by Conservative MP Lorraine Fullbrook as he gave evidence to a Commons committee hearing investigating the phone hacking scandal.

'Good God, absolutely not. I can't believe that you suggested that,' he replied.

But his apparent amusement turned to anger when the Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert interjected: 'Lots of people did.'

Mr Hayman hit back, saying: 'Come on, hang on, I'm not letting you get away with that. Absolutely no way. I can say to you...'

At this point the Home Affairs committee chairman, Labour MP Keith Vaz, tried to intervene, but Mr Hayman pressed on.

'No, come on Mr Chairman, that's not fair, that's not fair,' he declared.

Mr Vaz, however, asserted his authority.

'Mrs Fullbrook is not getting away with anything. It's the same question she has put to all witnesses,' he said.

Mr Hayman said that he was reacting to Mr Huppert's 'additional comment' which he challenged him to repeat.

When the MP did, Mr Hayman added: 'That's a real attack on my integrity. I'm not having it.'

Mr Vaz, however, had had enough.

'Order, order,' he said. 'Members of this committee are allowed to ask any question they wish. It is a fair question to put because it is in the public domain at the moment about other police officers.

'She's put her question, you've given an answer, the answer is an unequivocal 'no'.

Mr Hayman replied: 'Absolutely'.

Mr Hayman, who is now retired, left Norfolk to become the assistant commissioner for specialist operations and was in charge of the inquiry into the News of the World hacking allegations.