The estranged parents of murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne have been brought back together by the birth of their new baby.

Michael Payne was present when their daughter was born last weekend and has visited his wife Sara every day since.

The couple announced in September their 18-year marriage had been torn apart by the stress of Sarah's murder.

Michael's father, Terry, who lives in Kingston Gorse, Littlehampton, where Sarah was abducted in 2000, said: "Michael has been through a terrible time - but he's thrilled with the new baby.

"I think this will eventually bring Mike and Sara back together."

Mr Payne and his wife Leslie were visiting the baby for the first time today at the family home in Hersham, Surrey.

He said Sara had 30 names in mind for her daughter, who weighed in at 7lb 14oz, and was favouring Lilly: "But she said the baby doesn't look like a Lilly so she's thinking again.

"Poor Sara is exhausted - the baby wants feeding every two hours and is keeping her awake through the night. We're all really proud and thrilled."

Sarah was abducted from fields close to her grandparents' home and her body was discovered in Pulborough 16 days later.

Mechanic Roy Whiting is serving a life sentence for her murder.

Michael, who has been living away from the family home for the past two months, said the events of the past three years had been "overwhelming".

He said he felt guilty for being unable to protect his daughter and this had put strain on his marriage.

He said: "I've a lot of anger and bitterness inside me. I'm full of guilt and rage that I wasn't there to protect my little girl from that man.

"It hurts desperately that my Sarah will be looking down knowing that her family has been ripped apart."

At the time of their break-up, Sara said: "The sheer enormity of the tragedy has changed us into very different people."

But Mr Payne said he believed the baby could be the bond to permanently heal his son and daughter-in-law's split.

He said: "Mike's been through hell. Every day he wakes up and thinks about Sarah. He was hitting the bottle a bit - eight pints a day - to blot it all out.

"But he's got things under control now and has been cutting right back. We're keeping our fingers crossed."