James Murdoch has resigned as a director of the publishers of The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times, it has been reported.

Rupert Murdoch's son is said to have quit his posts at News Group Newspapers Limited (NGN) and Times Newspapers Limited, according to the Evening Standard.

The 38-year-old is said to have been replaced by Tom Mockridge, who replace Rebekah Brooks as News International chief executive in July.

James Murdoch has been under intense pressure in recent months over the phone hacking scandal, which forced the closure of News of the World. NGN was the publisher of the now defunct Sunday tabloid.

He has twice been summoned to appear before MPs investigating the phone hacking scandal. He has always claimed that the full truth about the extent of hacking at the NotW was hidden from him by senior executives at the paper.

A spokesman for News International told the Evening Standard that the shakeup did not mean James Murdoch was retreating from his involvement in the British arm of News Corporation.

"James Murdoch doesn't step back from NI. He remains chairman," the spokesman said.