The paedophile who abducted and killed eight-year-old Sarah Payne has been knifed by a fellow inmate in jail.

Roy Whiting, 43, is believed to have suffered facial injuries in last night's attack at Wakefield prison in West Yorkshire.

He was taken to nearby Pinderfields Hospital but was discharged a few hours later after treatment.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "A prisoner from Wakefield was taken to hospital last night following an alleged assault.

"The incident has been referred to the police. We cannot comment any further at this stage."

Prison sources said a knife was used in the attack on Whiting, who already had a conviction for child abduction when he snatched Sarah from near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, East Preston, in July 2000.

He was jailed for life last year for her murder.