Controversial columnist Katie Hopkins has failed to win permission to appeal over a High Court libel action which landed her with a six-figure bill.

On March 10 she was ordered to pay £24,000 damages to writer Jack Monroe - a former Echo columnist - at the end of a case dubbed "Twibel" by media pundits.

The former Apprentice star, who faces a costs bill running into six figures, was also ordered to pay £107,000 on account within 28 days.

Food blogger Monroe, 28, of Leigh, complained that the two May 2015 tweets accused her of "vandalising a war memorial and desecrating the memory of those who fought for her freedom, or of approving or condoning such behaviour".

Hopkins's defence was that her tweets did not bear the meanings complained of, were not defamatory and it had not been shown that they caused serious harm to Monroe's reputation.

But Mr Justice Warby ruled in Monroe's favour and said the publications "not only caused Ms Monroe real and substantial distress, but also harm to her reputation which was serious".

In a ruling made public on Wednesday, the judge said he had no jurisdiction at such a late stage to deal with an application made this week by Hopkins for permission to appeal over the damages award.

In any event, he added, he would have refused permission as he did not consider any of the four grounds of appeal to have a real prospect of success.

The judge also said that it would not be appropriate to stay payment of the £107,000 and the assessment of the costs.

Hopkins can still pursue her application to appeal directly with the Court of Appeal.