The Guardian is to defend robustly a legal action seeking to force the disclosure of the documents that formed the basis of its Paradise Papers investigation.

The offshore company at the heart of the story, Appleby, has launched breach of confidence proceedings against the Guardian and the BBC.

In legal correspondence, Appleby has also demanded that the Guardian and the BBC disclose any of the 6m Appleby documents that informed their reporting for a project that provoked worldwide anger and debate over the tax dodges used by individuals and multinational companies.

Appleby is also seeking damages for the disclosure of what it says are confidential legal documents.

...Appleby has said the documents were stolen in a cyber-hack and there was no public interest in the stories published about it and its clients.

It has brought legal action against only the Guardian and the BBC, both UK-based media organisations.