A topless woman appears on Page 3 of British tabloid The Sun newspaper for the first time in almost a week, bringing to an end speculation that the paper had dropped the long-running feature.

It had been widely thought the controversial item had ended after 44 years, but today’s paper shows 22-year-old Nicole from Bournemouth winking and baring her breasts.

Under the headline “Clarifications and Corrections” the paper states: “Further to recent reports in all other media outlets, we would like to clarify that this is Page 3 and this is a picture of Nicole, 22, from Bournemouth.

“We would like to apologise on behalf of the print and broadcast journalists who have spent the last two days talking and writing about us.”

The No To Page 3 campaign group, which had all but declared victory in their battle to have the feature axed, said the “fight might be back on”.

Writing on their Facebook page they said: "Thanks to The Sun for all the publicity they've given the campaign."

The paper, Britain’s best-selling tabloid, had not published pictures of topless glamour models since Friday, instead advising readers the pictures would be available on its website.

They did however print pictures of women in bikinis, and yesterday featured former Page 3 model Katie Price in a revealing outfit under the headline "Thanks for the mammaries".

Today’s front page claims: “We’ve had a mammary lapse”.

After reports, including in sister publication The Times, that the paper had decided to quietly drop the feature, British Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Liberal Democrat women's and equalities minister Jo Swinson were among those to express their delight.

But the tabloid's head of public relations Dylan Sharpe had refused to confirm the move, and last night he sent a tweet saying: "I said that it was speculation and not to trust reports by people unconnected to The Sun. A lot of people are about to look very silly..."