The campaign to continue the self-regulation of the newspaper industry has been hailed a success by the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission.

Speaking on Sunday night, Sir Christopher Meyer said that this was no mean feat, considering recent court judgements, political pressures and changes to the regulation of the broadcast media.

These included the passage of the Communications Act, which created the new regulatory body Ofcom.

"The lord chancellor dropped his plans to introduce statutory legislation on witness payments after it became clear self-regulation...could deliver the goods," Sir Christopher said.

"The Communications Bill passed through parliament without amendment, and with the integrity of our self regulation untouched.

"And the [Commons DCMS] select committee, of course, produced a report which for the first time endorsed the principles of self regulation and the authority and work of the Commission."

And the PCC chief told industry representatives that "no one should doubt the scale of that achievement" or the need for effective lobbying of MPs.

However Sir Christopher, a former ambassador to the US, warned that "external threats" to the system of self-regulation in the print media would return.

"Like Dracula...they are always pushing at the coffin lid," he said.

"Heaven forfend that an editor should commit a serious error of judgement, but it takes only one or two of those for the enemies of self regulation to become re-energised.

"The relatively propitious circumstances of today could turn on a sixpence tomorrow."

The PCC should continue "evolving and adapting to changed circumstances" and can only operate with the full support of the industry, he added.