London, Aug 3 (IANS): Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News International group, has been formally charged with phone hacking and will appear in court next month, Sky News reported.

The 44-year-old Brooks will appear at the Westminster Magistrates' Court Sep 3.

Six other journalists from the News of the World (NOTW) have been officially charged and will appear at the same court Aug 16.

The seven stand accused of one general charge of alleged phone hacking between October 2000 and August 2006 that could affect as many as 600 victims.

Brooks and Andy Coulson face specific charges of illegally accessing the voicemail of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The other former NOTW staff who face court are former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.

Brooks insists she is innocent.

"The charge concerning Milly Dowler is particularly upsetting, not only as it is untrue but also because I have spent my journalistic career campaigning for victims of crime. I will vigorously defend these allegations," Brooks said in a statement.

The former chief executive is also facing three counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

She and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie, who faces one count of the same offence, will appear at the Southwark Crown Court in London Sep 26.