The French public prosecutor had recommended that no action be taken, although there was no obligation on Judge Herve Stephan to follow that advice. There will also be noaction over charges of failing to assist persons in danger, an offence under French law.

The photographers, who acknowledge tailing Diana, had claimed they were made scapegoats and maintained throughout the investigation that they bore no responsibility for the accident.

Earl Spencer, who criticised the media after the death of his sister, Princess Diana, said he respected the report's conclusions.Judge Stephan also concluded that Dodi Fayed's decision to order an off-duty security official, who was drunk, to drive the Mercedes had contributed to the crash.But the report added that Dodi could not be reproached for his actions.Judge Stephan and Marie-Christine Devidal, the other investigating judge, focused on the actions of Henri Paul, who was found to be three times over the drink-drive limit.

"His state did not allow him to control the speeding car on a difficult portion of the road," the magistrates said.

"He also had to avoid a vehicle travelling in the same direction but at much lower speed."This is a reference to the mysterious white Fiat Uno, suspected of brushing the Mercedes but which has never been found.

The judges justified the investigation into the photographers' role, saying that their actions could have played a part in the crash. But the investigation "did not formally find a definite link between the accident and those under investigation".

The judge did note, however, that the photographers' behaviour had been severely criticised by several witnesses. He said that theiractions, despite their moral and ethical implications, did not "constitute an infraction of the criminal code".