(Adds Piers Morgan, News UK, Trinity Mirror comment)
LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Prosecutors ended one of thebiggest scandals in British journalism on Friday saying theywould take no more action over phone hacking charges against twoof the country's largest newspaper groups.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement itwould not pursue a corporate charge against Rupert Murdoch'sNews UK and individual charges against 10 people atrival publisher Mirror Group Newspapers.
Among the individuals no longer facing the threat ofpossible prosecution is former CNN television host and DailyMirror editor Piers Morgan, who said on his Twitter account:"I'm now going to get spectacularly drunk. Happy Christmas."
Reporters on both group's tabloid newspapers have admittedhacking into phones to find stories, a practice that causeduproar when it became public in 2011, resulting in the closureof Murdoch's News of the World title.
The CPS said it had brought 12 prosecutions and secured nineconvictions for hacking over the last three years, but wouldtake no further action.
"After a thorough analysis, we have decided there isinsufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of aconviction and therefore no further action will be taken in anyof these cases," said Director of Public Prosecutions AlisonSaunders.
"These decisions bring the CPS's involvement in currentinvestigations into phone hacking to a close."
An eight-month trial into hacking featuring some of the mosthigh-profile names involved in the scandal ended in June lastyear after shaking the political establishment.
It forced an apology from Prime Minister David Cameron forhiring former News of the World journalist Andy Coulson as hiscommunications director.
Coulson was convicted of conspiracy to intercept messages.Rebekah Brooks, the former boss of Murdoch's British newspaperarm, was acquitted.
Morgan, 50, currently a presenter of ITV's "Good MorningBritain" current affairs programme, edited the Mirror from 1995to 2004. He had been twice questioned by police over phonehacking at the paper but was never charged.
"I've today been informed by CPS that no further action willbe taken against me re Met Police phone hacking investigation,"he said on Twitter.
"As I've said since the investigation began four years ago,I've never hacked a phone and nor have I ever told anybody tohack a phone."
Trinity Mirror confirmed in a statement that no furtheraction would be taken against its journalists but made nocomment on the decision.
News UK welcomed the decision not to pursue a corporatecharge.
"Long ago, we apologised for the conduct that occurred,immediately took steps to pay compensation to those affected,and updated and instituted substantial reforms in our businessto ensure our governance is second to none," it said in astatement.
"Following a thorough and exhaustive investigation, andafter many long trials, enquiries and proceedings, this matterhas been concluded and the right decision has been taken." (Reporting by Stephen Addison and Paul Sandle; Editing by TomHeneghan)