Lord Justice Leveson has hit back at critics of his inquiry into media ethics and claimed he has no "hidden agenda" to stifle press freedom.

The judge was responding to reports that Education Secretary Michael Gove told MPs in February the inquiry was having a "chilling effect" on journalism.

He acknowledged there were concerns within the media about the impact of the inquiry, but insisted that he was fully committed to freedom of the press.

"I also understand that, on every day of the inquiry, every exchange I have with a witness will be analysed in order to reveal a hidden agenda. There is none," he said.

"No recommendations have been formulated or written. No conclusions have yet been reached."

Lord Justice Leveson confirmed he had contacted the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, after Mr Gove made his remarks to a Parliamentary Press Gallery lunch last February and David Cameron subsequently appeared to back them up at Prime Minister's Questions.

"I recognised that the Prime Minister had said that it was right to set up the inquiry but I wanted to find out whether Mr Gove was speaking for the Government, whether it was thought that the very existence of the inquiry was having a chilling effect on healthy, vibrant journalism, and whether the Government had effectively a settled view on any potential recommendations," he added.